Artist database

This is the Artist Database of BMC, which includes information about composers, musicians, orchestras, choirs and groups that are either Hungarian or Hungarian by origin or live in Hungary, as well as information about releases recorded with them.

Szandai Mátyás


double bass

 
14 May 1977 - August 2023

Mátyás Szandai was born in 1977 in Balassagyarmat, Hungary. He was a student of classical music with Gergely Járdányi at the double bass department of the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music, and graduated in 2004. Since the age of 16 he has been playing in various jazz bands, and over the last fifteen or so years has worked with almost all the famous names on the Hungarian jazz scene. He has become one of the most sought-after bass players in the genre.

He was a member of the Csaba Czirják Quartet, the Csaba Tűzkő Septet, and the Elemér Balázs Group, with whom he has made two albums for BMC: Around the world (2002), and Our worlds beyond (featuring Charlie Mariano, 2003). In 1996 he became a member of the Mihály Dresch Quartet, with whom he has recorded four albums for BMC: Quiet as it is (2001), Hungarian bebop (with Archie Shepp, 2002), Straight music (2004), and Árgyélus (2007). He can also be heard as a member of the Kristóf Bacsó Quartet, the Viktor Tóth Trio, the Dániel Szabó Trio, the Kálmán Oláh Sextet and the András Dés Trio.

Besides playing with the leading jazz musicians in Hungary, he has had the opportunity to work with famous musicians such as Archie Shepp, David Murray, Herbie Mann, Chico Freeman, Rosario Giuliani, Charlie Mariano, Hamid Drake, William Parker, Rob Brown, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Gerard Presencer, Chris Potter, Flavio Boltro, Zbigniew Namislowski, etc.

With various line-ups he has toured America, India and has performed in almost every country in Europe, including the London Jazz Festival, the JazzBrugge Festival, and several French festivals and clubs (Jazzébre, Amiens Jazz Festival, Cité de la Musique, New Morning etc.). He made a guest appearance with the Dániel Szabó Trio at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia in 2008, invited by Danilo Perez.

He is at home in almost every branch of jazz, and as well as the Dresch Quartet has often played in groups drawing heavily on folkmusic traditions (Kálmán Balogh, Peter Rachev), but has also worked on productions with a contemporary sound, such as Gábor Gadó’s album Byzantinum (2008). In the annual poll by Gramofon, the most important jazz magazine in Hungary, records made with his participation have twice won the award for jazz album of the year: Mihály Dresch Quartet: Straight Music (2004), Viktor Tóth: Climbing with Mountains (with Hamid Drake, 2007). His playing can also be heard on the album Frictions recorded by the Dániel Szabó Trio, featuring Kurt Rosenwinkel (Warner Jazz, 2007).
 
Year Title Publisher Code Remark
1997 Grencsó Big Collective: Villa Negra Fonó Records FA-033-2 CD
2000 Dresch Quartet: Mozdulatlan utazás
(Dresch Quartet: Riding the Wind)
November Music FA-084-2
2000 Herbie Mann: Eastern European Roots Herbie Mann Music 01-2000
2001 Dresch Mihály: Szép csendesen
(Mihály Dresch: Quiet As It Is)
BMC Records BMC CD 055
2001 Gadó Gábor: Homeward BMC Records BMC CD 056
2002 Balázs Elemér Group: Around The World BMC Records BMC CD 064
2002 Dresch Mihály Quartet/Archie Shepp: Hungarian Bebop BMC Records BMC CD 066
2002 Ágoston Béla: Meles Meles Magánkiadás Nana 01
2002 Tűzkő Csaba Septet: Zengő kő
(Clangorous Stone)
KCG Records KCG 010
2003 Mitsoura: Mitsoura Magánkiadás
2003 Balázs Elemér Group with Charlie Mariano: Our worlds beyond BMC Records BMC CD 086
2003 Czirják Csaba Quartet: Work in Progress... Magánkiadás
2003 Metszetek
(Segments)
TOM-TOM Records TTCD 49 Károly Makk: A Long Weekend in Pest and Buda - film music
2003 Tűzkő Csaba Septet: Tavaszköszöntő
(Greeting of Spring)
KCG Records 9S 0405
2004 Dresch Quartet: Egyenes zene
(Dresch Quartet: Straight Music)
BMC Records BMC CD 093
2005 Contemporary Gregorian Sony - BMG 82876759822 Artisjus Award - "Production of the Year" (2006)
2005 Kada Ad Libitum: Approximationes Periferic Records BGCD 152
2005 Hungarian Jazz Store BMC HMIC BMC PCD 016 Not for sale - only for promotion / 4 CDs
2005 Tóth Viktor Tercett Gramy Records GR-059
2006 Kovács Ferenc: Hat6k Gramy Records GR-064
2006 Dresch Quartet: Élő nád
(Dresch Quartet: Live Reeds)
X-produkció XP 025
2007 Dresch Mihály Quartet: Árgyélus BMC Records BMC CD 131
2007 László Dés, Elemér Balázs Quartet and Voces4 Ensemble: Contemporary Gregorian - Gregorian in Jazz - Double Quartet Live Sony - BMG 88697086499
2007 Climbing with Mountains BMC Records BMC CD 132
2007 Contemporary Gregorian Sony - BMG 88697086499 DVD / Concert at Millenáris Teátrum
2007 Súrlódások
(Frictions)
Warner S144-21322-2
2008 Dés András Trio: Unquiet Stillness X-produkció XP035
2008 Gadó Gábor: Byzantinum
(Gadó, Gábor: Byzantinum)
BMC Records BMC CD 137
2008 Alteregos BMC Records BMC CD 148
2009 Progressio, inflexio, repetitio L. V. Records BGCD 202
2009 Tartim BMC Records BMC CD 150
2009 Dresch Quartet: Ritka madár
(Dresch Quartet: Rare Bird)
X-produkció XP 037
2010 Szabó Dániel Trió / Chris Potter: Contribution BMC Records BMC CD 151
2010 Dresch / Gilchrist / Szandai / Drake: Sharing the Shed BMC Records BMC CD 174 Own
2010 Schiefel / Daerr / Lukács / Szandai: Gondellied in the Sahara BMC Records BMC CD 173 Own
2010 Lung-gom-pa BMC Records BMC CD 154
2011 The Cool Runnings Orchestra: Tribute to Marley BMC Records BMC CD 192
2011 popping bopping BMC Records BMC CD 191
2011 Sketches of Pangea BMC Records BMC CD 180
2012 Bacsó Kristóf Quartet: Nocturne BMC Records BMC CD 195
2012 Cimbalomversenyek
(Cimbalom Concertos)
FolkEurópa FECD 054 2 CDs
2014 Dés András Quartet '13: Tourist No.1 Hunnia Records HRCD 1401
2016 Ozone Acoustyle Quartet: Organic Food BMC Records BMC CD 229
2018 Szandai Mátyás, Mathias Lévy, Lukács Miklós: Bartók Impressions
(Mátyás Szandai, Mathias Lévy, Miklós Lukács: Bartók Impressions)
BMC Records BMC CD 254 Own
2019 Szandai Mátyás Quartet: Sādhana
(Mátyás Szandai Quartet: Sādhana)
BMC Records BMC CD 277 Own
2020 Dés András Erdőkerülők: einschliesslich
(András Dés Rangers: einschliesslich)
BMC Records BMC CD 291 Own