(World fusion) Djabe /Hungary/ - 12 альбомов - 1996-2014, MP3, 320 kbps

Djabe is one of the bright spots of Hungarian musical life. That year their achievements have been rewarded by public as well as professional circles, as it was awarded the so called 'Golden Giraffe' (the Hungarian Music Award) in the category of 'Jazz and world music'.
The fans of the band know it very well that the band is characterized not only by the high standard and the perfect quality of the music (the band makes its recordings in its own, modern studio), but their visual effects and the technical quality are also unique in Hungary. The tour in the spring of 2000 was completed with the Vari*Lite intelligent lighting system that made it possible to project animations and videos suiting the message and the mood of the tracks. With the Vari*Lite gobos designed for the tour and projected as background scenery the large audience had a visual experience of a higher standard than ever. Djabe recorded the concerts and compiled an 80-minute CD from the best moments of the tour, which splendidly reflects its atmosphere. At the same time - after the three studio CDs - this album is a selection of the best Djabe tracks, since such classicals can be heard like 'Djabe', 'Visions' and 'Witchi Tai To'. There is a brand new track as well, whose title is Ubud named after a small town in Bali. The cover of the CD has been made in the habitual, demanding way, as it is distributed with a 6-page DigiPack cover.

This is an excellent studio album of the renewed band in 2001. The Djabe music kept its original values, but the band made a further step on the road of improvement. The compositions and arrangement became more complex and are of a higher standard; new musicians made richer the already colourful palette of the sound. Ben Castle, the excellent, young British saxophone player, joined Djabe for the recordings and also for the tour. The professional judges gave an eMeRTon award for the album in 2001 as best album of the year in Hungary.

In 2002 Djabe gave concerts on various topics at the New Orleans Music Club in a way that on each night the program was totally different. Altogether the band played more then seven hours (!) of different tunes. On the last two nights unplugged concerts were held. Said Tichiti, the Moroccan musician who played on the Update album, joined the gig on the 19 of November.
The tracks on the CD covers the full career of the band from the first record of Djabe released in 1996, to Sheafs are dancing, as well as new adaptations and music tunes which have not been played at concerts - lasting in total more than two hours.
The first enhanced CD includes a 14 minutes video from the first performance of the six-member lime-up of Djabe, recorded in the Vasas Sportshall, Budapest in 2001.
Besides the video a full band biography and discography can be found also on the enhanced CD. The visitors of the Unplugged concerts can recall the concerts with a photo album, which contains 50 pictures.
This unplugged album is more word than jazz music again, and was nominated to the “Best Hungarian world music album of the year”.
"I am convinced that one who sits down to listen to a Djabe CD with the expectation of hearing a very special and unique musical experience has never been let down. We would think that they have already shown everything that could be known about the music of the XXI. Century, and that it could not be further improved upon, but they proved us wrong with their Unplugged at the New Orleans double record. Unplugged is a cruel genre as there is no possibility to cover mistakes, contingencies with technical tricks. However, this is not necessary at these concerts.
The musicians prove individually that they are in perfect harmony with their instruments and together the performance is more than simply a summary of pieces. This "chamber" concert has proved that the band is on the right track when it integrated new members in 2001. With this new line-up Djabe managed to bring new sounds even into those compositions, which can probably be heard at every concert. The aim, which was to sound their musical ideas live, and also, to those which were already set at that time, was surely reached with this record.
In our musical life where there are crowds of groups being formed with only business intentions in mind, it is rare, but I hope despite all appearances, not unique what Djabe represents. Not being distracted by fashion, they are going forward on the road they have started, and on which expressions are sign posted such as quality, humbleness towards music, endless preciseness and spontaneity based on sheer hard work. Only those who are completely sure in their own performance can afford to work together with such different music characters as Steve Hackett, Ben Castle or Said Tichiti, making it authentic for the audience what they do on stage. It is not without danger when a band is so consequent in following their set aims, but I hope that the stratum, which recognizes and expects quality, within the audience has become stronger, and I am convinced that Djabe has taken a big part in making this happen."
Neltz Janos /Hungarian Radio/

The outstanding Hungarian representative of jazz/world fusion music has this time mainly taken inspiration from the treasure of Hungarian music. Barabas Tamas's and Egerhazi Attila's compositions were inspired by the paintings of the recently departed painter, Egerhazi Imre. The Alfold, Hortobagy, the Transylvanian scenery and the other motives of Egerhazi Imre has won a music interpretation. In a new step, among the writers we can find the names of the pianist, Kovacs Zoltan along with the violin and trumpet player, Kovacs Ferenc. Sipos Andras, one of the founders of the band, brings new colourful sounds on his percussions. Banai Szilard, the young, talented jazz drum player fits more and more maturely to the face of Djabe. Kovacs Zoltan, once again, proves his exceptional music knowledge, this time on an acoustic piano instead of on synthesizers. And in the case of Kovacs Ferenc his violin skills shine on this record. His characteristic, Hungarian, "Rustic Baroque" play vitally determines the style of the CD. He is great on the trumpet, too, as Archie Sheep claims: "... he plays the trumpet like Miles Davis, while he is one of the best violin player of the World." Besides the excellent bass guitar playing of Barabas Tamas we must praise his writing, arranger and sound engineering works as well. Egerhazi Attila assembled the vision in a genuine manner together with Barabas. His compositions and guitar playing has been fundamental again in the case of this 2003 Djabe production.
Djabe invited several guests once more to bring The Sheafs are dancing to life.
From among the outstanding contributors:
Steve Hackett’s guitar style adds an interesting colour to the soundscape of this recordings.
Ben Castle uplifts the standard of the recording with his soprano saxophone. He was previously a determining musician in the recording of Update and Flying (DVD).
For the very first time the tabla apperead by Szalai Peter in Djabe recordings. Herczeg Judit is also a returning guest to the Djabe album as a vocalist.
The CD is released in a very decorative, paper case packaging. On the album, not only can we "listen to" the 14 paintings, but we can also admire them in the small booklet, which goes along with it.
This album was nominated to the “Best Hungarian jazz album of the year”.
"What does Hungarian jazz sound like? Take smooth jazz played by seven guys who look like truck drivers and dump a couple of buckets of paprika on them. Add a little Eastern European folk sensibility, particularly that gypsy fiddle. A packed RIJF Big Tent ate it up."
Jeff Spevak, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
"It's not hard to figure out why Djabe is the leading jazz-fusion band of Hungary. The group's music is filled with lush textures and appealing melodies. Group member Kovacs Ferenc, who has worked with David Murray and Archie Shepp, is an excellent soloist on trumpet, flugelhorn, and violin."
Rochester Citynews
"I enjoyed Djabe's music and the packaging for Sheafs are dancing is superb."
Jim Simpson, Birmingham International Jazz Festival

The new album of Djabe is a worthy continuation of the band’s traditions and the values represented by them so far.
The composing ability of Tamas Barabas integrates all the talent of the members of the band, creating a new quality by that. The compositions are fresh, unique, still sound familiar. World music form Hungary, Azerbaijan, approaching jazz from different ways in a specific execution. The members of the band play in their finest fettle. This album is the final work of Andras Sipos, singer and percussionist, since he almost entirely finished the recordings before his death. His singing misses from three songs...
As we could get used to, great guest artists regularly participate on the Djabe albums. Herewith there are even two sax-players perform on the album. One of them is Ben Castle from England, who is a regular participant of the Djabe albums, and John Nugent from USA, who plays together with the band for the first time.
A particular variety is the play of the world-famous master of tar-player, Malik Mansurov from Azerbaijan in the tune Kilinama. The composition Wind and Bell converts into Gipsy music at the end. Sandor Budai and his band represents a surprising turn in the world of Take on.
The album summarizes all the knowledge that Djabe have learned and showed from music for 12 years.
The DVDA format of the album contains the whole music in Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1
Video extra is: 50 minutes concert footage, recorded at the Debrecen Jazz Days in Hungary. That was the last performance of Sipi with the band, just before a week before his unexpected death.
„Unexpected, unique and fun!” (Jeff Spevak, Rochester City News, USA)