In this series introducing us to some great personalities, Gábor Turi’s Open University of Jazz will introduce visitors to the significant stages of a long life journey. Jazz has been a widely familiar concept for well over a century now, and a library of literature has been written about it. Conventionally described as the ‘music of improvisation’, the ‘folk music of the 20th century’, ‘rhythmic improvisational music’ or ‘the music of freedom’ – jazz is more than anything else a music of performers. There is no other musical genre in which the personality plays such a prominent role. Jazz musicians consider the voice or instrument – which can sometimes be an entire band – to be an extension of themselves: it is in its sound, its playing style, and its freedom of expression that their individuality truly manifests itself. The playing of the most outstanding personalities can be recognised by a few notes or chords. That is why the House of Music Hungary decided to have the Open University of Jazz focus thematically on introducing us to key stylistically trailblazing individuals of the genre.

Gábor Turi’s presentations in the spring series offer a look into the art of pianist Dave Brubeck, saxophonist Sonny Rollins, keyboardist Joe Zawinul and singer Cassandra Wilson. Illustrated with video and musical interludes, the presentations also shed light on the era from which these great personalities emerged.