Budapest Jazz Orchestra
Orchestra, choir, ensemble
Formed
1998
E-mail
Web
Tel
+36 (1) 210 0000/184
Further contact
Postacím: 1034 Budapest, Szomolnok u. 6.
The Budapest Jazz Orchestra (BJO) was founded in 1998, and they have been the only professional big band in Hungary ever since. In the past five years they have had concerts at the Hungarian Radio (on the centenary of Duke Ellington's birthday), the Academy of Music, the Budapest Convention Centre, and the Hungarian State Opera House. In 1999 they attended a master course lead by Butch Lacy, which was followed by a concert tour in Hungary. Since 2000 the BJO has been a returning performer at the Island Festival (Sziget fesztivál), which is the biggest summer open-air music festival in Eastern Europe. They have organized a two-season concert series on the history of big bands. In 2001 the BJO performed at a live broadcast of the Hungarian Radio, when they played Budapest Jazz Suite by Kornél Fekete-Kovács and Concerto for Jazz Orchestra by Kálmán Oláh - both composed specially for the BJO. This year the first Big Band Festival was also organized by the BJO. The orchestra often participates in big Hungarian festivals, like the Kapolcs Valley of Arts, the Budapest Jazz Festival, the Hungarian Drummer Meeting and the Miskolc Opera Festival. In recent years, they have played with Eleonor Johanson, John Hoybe and Ray Anderson.
The first album of the Budapest Jazz Orchestra titled Budapest Jazz Suite was released in 2001 by BMC Records. In 2002 they came out with their second CD, Big Band Legends, a collection of pieces representing milestones of big band history. Their third record (also released by BMC Records) followed in 2003, titled Human Circle - The Wayfarer, where world famous saxophonist, Dave Liebman was guest musician. In October 2003 they gave a concert with the great jazz drummer, Peter Erskine. In 2004 they gave a performance of Péter Eötvös' composition, Paris Dakar at the MIDEM in Cannes. The solo trombone part was played by László Gőz to whom the piece was dedicated.
The first album of the Budapest Jazz Orchestra titled Budapest Jazz Suite was released in 2001 by BMC Records. In 2002 they came out with their second CD, Big Band Legends, a collection of pieces representing milestones of big band history. Their third record (also released by BMC Records) followed in 2003, titled Human Circle - The Wayfarer, where world famous saxophonist, Dave Liebman was guest musician. In October 2003 they gave a concert with the great jazz drummer, Peter Erskine. In 2004 they gave a performance of Péter Eötvös' composition, Paris Dakar at the MIDEM in Cannes. The solo trombone part was played by László Gőz to whom the piece was dedicated.
| Year | Title | Publisher | Code | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Budapest Jazz Orchestra: Budapest Jazz Suite | BMC Records | BMC CD 065 |
Own |
| 2002 |
Budapest Jazz Orchestra: Big Band Legendák
(Big Band Legends) |
Magánkiadás |
Own 2 CDs |
|
| 2003 | Budapest Jazz Orchestra with Dave Liebman: Human Circle - The Wayfarer | BMC Records | BMC CD 088 |
Own |
| 2004 |
Eötvös Péter: Snatches
(Péter Eötvös: Snatches) |
BMC Records | BMC CD 097 | |
| 2005 |
Örömkoncert 2005
(Concert of Joy 2005) |
Magánkiadás | DVD - Not for sale | |
| 2005 | Hungarian Jazz Store | BMC HMIC | BMC PCD 016 | Not for sale - only for promotion / 4 CDs |