Bridge of Culture East Gipsy Band feat. Tim Ries

• 1 Naj Majshukar – Nincs szebb – Beautiful Beyond All Others 03:53
• 2 Bulgarian Gipsy Song 04:44
• 3 Django 04:24
• 4 Luludyori – Virágocska – Floweret 06:18
• 5 Around In The World 03:49
• 6 Song Of Now 04:33
• 7 Gelem – Vándorlás – Wandering 05:48
• 8 Shalom Aleichem 05:39
• 9 Russian Swing 02:56
• 10 Kathar O Del – Az Istentől – From God 04:41
• 11 Bibaxtalo – Szerencsétlen – Luckless 03:29
• 12 Under The Sky 04:44
• 13  Lindri – Álmok – Dreams 01:31
• Total Runtime 56:29

Info for Bridge of Culture

The East Gipsy Band is a great initiative in combining Roma music tradition and jazz with leading Hungarian Roma musicians. This sensational group has already toured Canada and the United States. They have been a huge success at the legendary Blue Note in New York and at the Detroit Jazz Festival. The leader of the band, József Balázs, is one of the most talented pianists of the middle generation, winning the Best Soloist Award at the Krakow Jazz Juniors Competition, but also one of the mainstays of his brother's band. In 2006, at the age of 15, violinist/guitarist Lajos Sárközi won the Hungarian Radio's national jazz violin competition. Since then, he has been improving by leaps and bounds. The cimbalom player Vilmos Oláh is one of the great new promises on his instrument. The singer Guszti Balogh is the leader of the Nomada band, a member of the Fabula Rasa band, and a regular guest musician in many other bands in Hungary and abroad. The bass player György Orbán is one of the most sought-after musicians in the country. He is a dynamic, virtuoso, overwhelming musician, playing in numerous ensembles. In 2005 he was a member of the Bolla Quartet, which won the Grand Prize and Audience Award at the Avignon International Jazz Festival. As a drummer and composer, Elemér Balázs has been a major figure on the Hungarian jazz scene for a decade and a half, and has also been a bandleader since 1995. He really needs no introduction!

József Balázs, piano
Lajos Sárközi, violin, guitar
Vilmos Oláh, cymbalom
Guszti Balogh, vocals
György Orbán, bass
Elemér Balázs, drums

East Gipsy Band
represents an exciting fusion format for creating unique and captivating music. Its members are highly respected representatives of jazz and roma world music. Accordingly, theirs is an adventure with the traditions of Roma music filtered through the sensibilities of jazz. The band was formed by József Balázs who himself is one of the most talented piano players of the young generation, having played with Erik Truffaz, Stephane Belmondo, Bobbie Watson, Charlie Mariano, Robin Eubanks, and Steve Houben, among others. Their debut album Ageless Message was released in May 2011, featuring the great saxophone player Tim Ries, who invited the band to tour with him the East Coast of the United States and Canada. The band were a great success at the legendary Blue Note in New York and at the Detroit Jazz Festival, as well.

Tim Ries
Saxophonist, composer, arranger, producer, and educator Tim Ries received degrees from both The University of North Texas (BM) and The University of Michigan (MM). He has had a unique and varied career, which began in 1983 with the great Maynard Ferguson. Tim moved to New York City in 1985 and since that time his performing and recording credits include a who’s who of jazz, rock, pop and world music icons: The Rolling Stones from 1999 to the present, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Michael Jackson, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Rod Stewart, and jazz greats Red Garland, Donald Byrd, Hank Jones, Jack DeJohnette, Phil Woods, Tom Harrell, Michael Brecker, Joe Henderson, Tony Bennett, Dave Liebman, Al Foster, John Patitucci, Bela Szakcsi Lakatos. Tim has released 9 CDs as a leader. His latest collaborations are performing with the great flamenco dancer Sara Baras and with The East Gipsy Band from Budapest. Tim has taught saxophone and composition at The New School, Rutgers University, The City University of New York and The University of Toronto.

Booklet for Bridge of Culture