Dániel Szabó Nonet: Masterpieces Rearranged

This programme is held in Hungarian.

The Szabó Dániel Nonett integrates the more structured language of classical music with the improvisational soaring of jazz. Pianist-composer Dániel Szabó selects from the already written gems of music history, primarily from the 20th-century music repertoire, and reworks these pieces for the nine-member chamber ensemble, which is complemented by a jazz rhythm section. This brings masterpieces by Béla Bartók, György Ligeti, Dmitri Shostakovich, and Maurice Ravel to the stage in a new guise, shaped by the personality of the bandleader and the ensemble. The unique language and vocabulary of classical pieces, the expressive freedom of jazz, and the primordial power of folk music are all reflected in these adaptations. Each member of the orchestra is an outstanding figure of both the domestic and international music scenes, deftly drawing from multiple musical traditions.

Dániel Szabó is a pianist and composer well-versed in both jazz and classical music. His unique and complex musical world is nourished by various sources: classical and contemporary music, jazz improvisation, and folk music all serve as inspiration for him. He regularly works in the United States as well as in Europe, with jazz legends like John Patitucci, Dave Weckl, Peter Erskine, Chris Potter, and Joe LaBarbera. In Hungary, he often performs with Mihály Borbély, János Ávéd, Kristóf Bacsó, the Modern Art Orchestra, and distinguished representatives of the younger generation. His latest ensemble, the Szabó Dániel Nonet, is a true curiosity that brings the jewels of classical music literature to life through the witty adaptations of the composer, featuring woodwinds, cello, and jazz trio. The formation debuted at the House of Music Hungary in the spring of 2022.