László Attila
guitar
Jazz guitarist and composer. After graduating from the Jazz Department of the Béla Bartók Conservatory of Music, he played in top Hungarian jazz bands. In 1985 he founded the band Things with saxophonist Tony Lakatos. Since 1987 he has been a teacher at the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music, and the leader of its big band. In 1997 he was awarded with the Artisjus Prize given to the best composer in popular music annually. In 1999 he received the Gábor Szabó Prize from the Hungarian Jazz Federation for his lifetime achievement. In the same year he was elected the president of the Hungarian Jazz Federation, and re-elected in 2003. In 2000 he won the Leó Weiner Prize for his Outstanding Music Pedagogical Work from the Hungarian Association of Creative Artists. In 2003 he was given the Liszt Prize for his work as a composer.
During his career he has played with such renowned artists as Anthony Jackson, James Moody, Tommy Campbell, Gerard Veasley, and Dave Friedman. He has been leading his own combo, the Attila László Band since 1992, who play in a style close to contemporary jazz. Their music, which is original in tone, consists mainly of pieces written and arranged by Attila László, and on their latest record the unique compositions of Kálmán Oláh can also be heard.
Their first CD, The Only One, was released in 1995. Their second album, Smart Kid (BMC CD 034) came out in 1999, and they made their third release, Once Upon a Time (BMC CD 076) in 2002. The special feature of the latter one is the use of woodwind instruments beside the rhythm section, and in three compositions a string orchestra creates an extraordinary atmosphere. This sound, though more modern and is augmented with the tone of a symphonic orchestra, evokes the musical world of Kaszakő Ensemble.
Besides playing guitar on the double CD of Charlie that came out in the fall of 2001, titled Charlie Jazz, he contributed to it as arranger and composer as well. The album includes two studio recordings of new compositions by László, together with some of his earlier pieces in new arrangement. On the CDs Soul & Jazz and Funky, Soul & Jazz released in the meantime, he again participated as composer, arranger and guitarist.
The Attila László Band toured the United States in 2004. They gave eight concerts, among other places, in jazz clubs of New York, New Jersey, Washington, Cleveland, and Chicago, but appeared also in the Hungarian Cultural Center.
On 14 February 2004 he recorded with Tony Lakatos (saxophone), Kálmán Oláh (piano), János Egri (acoustic bass), Béla Lattmann (bass guitar) and Géza "Pecek" Lakatos (drums). The title of the CD is "On the Broadway", and it includes popular jazz standards in authentic performance fit for the atmosphere of a jazz club.
Prizes:
- 1996 Huszka Jenő prize
- 1997 Artisjus prize
- 1999 Szabó Gábor jazz prize
- 2000 Weiner Leó prize
- 2002 Artisjus prize
- 2003 Liszt Ferenc prize
- 2010 Érdemes művész prize
- 2010 Magyar Jazz prize
- 2017 Artisjus prize
During his career he has played with such renowned artists as Anthony Jackson, James Moody, Tommy Campbell, Gerard Veasley, and Dave Friedman. He has been leading his own combo, the Attila László Band since 1992, who play in a style close to contemporary jazz. Their music, which is original in tone, consists mainly of pieces written and arranged by Attila László, and on their latest record the unique compositions of Kálmán Oláh can also be heard.
Their first CD, The Only One, was released in 1995. Their second album, Smart Kid (BMC CD 034) came out in 1999, and they made their third release, Once Upon a Time (BMC CD 076) in 2002. The special feature of the latter one is the use of woodwind instruments beside the rhythm section, and in three compositions a string orchestra creates an extraordinary atmosphere. This sound, though more modern and is augmented with the tone of a symphonic orchestra, evokes the musical world of Kaszakő Ensemble.
Besides playing guitar on the double CD of Charlie that came out in the fall of 2001, titled Charlie Jazz, he contributed to it as arranger and composer as well. The album includes two studio recordings of new compositions by László, together with some of his earlier pieces in new arrangement. On the CDs Soul & Jazz and Funky, Soul & Jazz released in the meantime, he again participated as composer, arranger and guitarist.
The Attila László Band toured the United States in 2004. They gave eight concerts, among other places, in jazz clubs of New York, New Jersey, Washington, Cleveland, and Chicago, but appeared also in the Hungarian Cultural Center.
On 14 February 2004 he recorded with Tony Lakatos (saxophone), Kálmán Oláh (piano), János Egri (acoustic bass), Béla Lattmann (bass guitar) and Géza "Pecek" Lakatos (drums). The title of the CD is "On the Broadway", and it includes popular jazz standards in authentic performance fit for the atmosphere of a jazz club.
Prizes:
- 1996 Huszka Jenő prize
- 1997 Artisjus prize
- 1999 Szabó Gábor jazz prize
- 2000 Weiner Leó prize
- 2002 Artisjus prize
- 2003 Liszt Ferenc prize
- 2010 Érdemes művész prize
- 2010 Magyar Jazz prize
- 2017 Artisjus prize
| Year | Title | Publisher | Code | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Kaszakő: Édenkert | Hungaroton | HCD 17763 | |
| 1984 | Blue String | Hungaroton | SLPX 17823 | LP |
| 1987 | Things featuring Tony Lakatos: Blues for the Last Punk | Jazzpoint | JP 1026 | |
| 1989 | Debski-Vasvári Group: Back in Nang | Krém | SLPM 37285 | LP |
| 1990 | Csepregi Gyula: In Line | Krém | SLPX 37367 | LP |
| 1990 | Things & Tony Lakatos: Mother Nature | Jazzpoint | JP 1028 | |
| 1993 | The Swinging Violin of Csaba Deseő | Jazzette | BPCD 026 | |
| 1993 | Greg Földvári: Touch Wood | Magánkiadás | MKB 0002 | |
| 1994 | Running Time - The best of László Dés | Hungaroton | HCD 37332 | |
| 1997 | Something New, Something Old | Pannon Jazz | PJ 1027 | |
| 1999 | László Attila Band: Smart Kid | BMC Records | BMC CD 034 |
Own |
| 2001 | Funky Violin | Hungaroton | HCD 71045 | Compilation / Hungarian Jazz History 5. |
| 2001 | Horgas Eszter Arcai II. - Hazafelé | Gramy Records | GR-028 | |
| 2002 | László Attila Band: Once upon a Time | BMC Records | BMC CD 076 |
Own |
| 2003 | Ötödik Dimenzió | Mandel Produkciós Kft. | ||
| 2004 | László Attila és barátai: On the Broadway | TOM-TOM Records |
Own |
|
| 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 |
| 2005 | Péter Szendőfi: triAngel | TOM-TOM Records | TTCD 70 | |
| 2006 | Attila László and Friends: Just Trust | TOM-TOM Records | TTCD 85 |
Own |
| 2008 | Dés László: A fal mögött | Hungaroton | HCD 17771 | |
| 2009 | Juhász Gábor: 1978 | X-produkció | XP 040 | |
| 2009 | Babel | TOM-TOM Records | TTCD 120 |
Own |
| 2010 | Csanyi Lattmann Quartet: A Walk on the Beach | TOM-TOM Records | TTCD 140 | |
| 2011 | And Other Seasons | TOM-TOM Records | TTCD 154 | |
| 2014 | Bridges of Souls | Dreamers Collective Records | DCR 1004 |
Own |