Djabe plays unique music in which the elements of jazz are mixed with various parts of Hungarian and World Music. The main composer of the band is Tamás Barabás, who – at the same time

– is the most virtuoso Hungarian bass guitarist. Jazz and authentic Hungarian music are simul- taneously present in the play of Ferenc Kovács. According to Archie Sheep, who worked with Ferenc Kovács on several occasions “he is one of the best violin players in the world and in the mean- time plays the trumpet like Miles Davis”. He also worked with Dave Murray, Balanescu, John Zorn and Hamid Drake.

The pianist, Zoltán Kovács’s colourful play, sometimes tending to be classical, increases the standard of Djabe’s performance on a large scale. Djabe means freedom in the African Ashanti language.

 

The founder and other composer of the band is Attila Égerházi – playing the guitar and being the leader of the band, too –, who interprets this freedom primarily by freely mixing the styles and instruments. Djabe’s drummer, Szilárd Banai is one of the best Hungarian jazz drummers, his reliable and musical play gives the best possible rhythmic background of the band.

As a sound engineer, the arranger of the band, Tamas Barabas has won the recognition of the experts at Abbey Road with the 5.1 surround mixing of ‘Sheafs are Dancing’. This release was nominated to surround music award in Los Angeles in 2004.

The outstanding project of the band, the show of ‘Djabe special guest Steve Hackett’ not only con- tains Steve playing Djabe tunes, it also includes playing Genesis and Hackett classics with Djabe.