Elemér Balázs is one of Hungary's best known jazz drummers. Three years ago he invited six of his colleagues, all fine musicians in their own right, to form the Elemér Balázs Group, and they have become a highly acclaimed band by now. They have made two CD-s so far, both released by BMC Records. 'Around the World' from 2002 features saxophonist Mihály Dresch and accordeon player David Yengibarjan, and the liner notes include praises from legendary guitarist Pat Metheny. On 'Our worlds beyond', recorded in 2003, soprano saxophonist László Dés and world famous American alto saxophonist Charlie Mariano appear as guest musicians. The Group has been touring Hungary extensively, and they are regularly invited to festivals not only in their home country but abroad as well. They gave memorable concerts in Berlin, The Hague, London and Vienna. The group is striving to create their own sound characterised mainly by the contrast of the female and male voices. In their music they mix ethnic songs with original compositions. " Elemér is one of the best drummers around right now, in my opinion. He plays with such musicality and finesse and has the ability to listen inside each musical moment with the kind of spontaneous decision - making that allows everyone that plays with him to sound their best. He also has a wonderful touch on the instrument - I always enjoy the chance to play with him and to hear him." Pat Metheny
Members:
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Elemér Balázs
has been a central figure of jazz life in Hungary for fifteen years both as a drummer and as a composer, and since 1995 he has been leading his own groups. He played in the band No-Spa, was the pillar of Trio Midnight, and is the permanent drummer of the Creative Art Ensemble. He has performed at several international festivals, including Perugia, Marciac, Nuremberg, Zurich, Munich, Copenhagen, Tallin; he has worked with Anette Lowman, Stepko Gutt, Zbigniew Namyslowsky, Jukka Perko, Paolo Fresu, Stephane Belmondo, Steve Houben, Lee Konitz, Art Farmer, Pat Metheny and Al Jarreau. Elemér Balázs's solo career can be divided into two major periods: he made three CD?s with his trio and quintet, Fly bird in 1995, My new way in 1997 and Always that moment in 2000 (his first release on the BMC label, which was awarded the "Hungarian Jazz Album of the Year" by Gramofon magazine); and since 2002 he has been the leader of the Elemér Balázs Group. Their debut record Around the world was released the same year.

József Balázs,
one of the most talented pianists of the younger generation of jazz musicians, made his first appearance on his brother's album, My new way. He has played with Erik Truffaz, Stephane Belmondo and Steve Houben among others. He won second prize at the Jazz Pianist Competition named after the late Gábor Balogh Füsti and he was judged "best soloist" at the Krakow Jazz Juniors Competition.

András Dés
is another talented representative of the younger generation. After studying classical percussion, his interest turned towards the music of different nations. Currently he is a student at the Jazz Faculty of the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music. He has performed and recorded with Frank London, the Budapest Jazz Orchestra, the Bosambo Trio, Off Course featuring Erik Truffaz, and with the Kaltenecker Trio. He participated on recordings of film soundtracks and theatrical music.

Thanks to his unique voice, Gábor Winand is perhaps the most often employed Hungarian jazz singer. He worked with the ESP Group, was a guest musician of Trio Stendhal for two years, played with Gábor Gadó's Joy, Brass Age, György Vukán's CAE trio and Class Jazz Band, and the Bosambo Trio. He can regularly be heard singing with his wife, Elsa Valle, playing Cuban jazz. His debut album, Corners of my mind - composed by Gadó - was voted record of the year 2002 by the reviewers of the French magazine Jazzman. His second CD is to come out in 2003.

Klára Hajdú
Studied jazz vocal for 5 years in Szeged. Currently she is at the Jazz Faculty studying jazz singing. She was awarded with the first prize in 2001 in the solo singer category of Sony Talent Search and won the third prize in the complete competition. In the famous TV 2 contest "Megastar" she got as far as the best 16 singers.


Discography:
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Around The World

Bulgarian folk song
Desire
Spirit
In my sky at twilight
Around the world
Jonathan Livingstone - Dedicated to Gábor Gadó and to all my friends
Expectation
Soldier song (Swedish folk song)
Jag tör jag far (Swedish folk song)
Szeterõm e táncba (Hungarian folk song)
ElemérBalázs - drums, keyboards
JózsefBalázs - keyboards
GáborJuhász - Guitar
MátyásSzandai - double bass
AndrásDés - percussion
GáborWinand - vocals
HenriettCzerovszky - vocals

MihályDresch - flute on Jag tör jag far (Swedish folk song)
David Yengibarjan - accordion on Around the world
Recorded at the Roxer Studio
Recording engineer: Péter Glaser
Mixed by Péter Erdélyi
Produced by László Gõz
Released by BMC Records, 2002


Our worlds beyond

Tales of the woods
Together alone
Bangalore
Intro
Sadness
Midwest
75th cross
Dance with the wind
Sweet and bitter
Hungarian folk song
My favorite things
Charlie Mariano - soprano sax (Tales of the woods), alto sax (Bangalore, 75th cross, Sweet and bitter, My favorite things)
Elemér Balázs - drums
József Balázs - keyboards
Gábor Juhász - Guitar
Mátyás Szandai - double bass
András Dés - percussion
Gábor Winand - vocals
Henriett Czerovszky - vocals
László Dés - Soprano sax (75th cross, My favorite things)
Elemér Balázs Sr. - clarinet (Intro, Sadness, Hungarian folk song)
Recorded at the Tom-Tom Studio
Recorded and mixed by Attila Kölcsényi
Produced by László Gõz
Released by BMC Records, 2003


refracting sounds

Elf
Peach tree
Balkan sky
Dream journey
Deep colours
Open your mind
Going to America
Refracting sounds
Jaipur garden
Homecoming
King?s farewell
Breaking up
Strange silence
After the storm
Elemér Balázs - drums
József Balázs - keyboards
Gábor Juhász - Guitar
Péter Glaser- double bass
András Dés - percussion
Gábor Winand - vocals
Klára Hajdú - vocals
László Dés - soprano saxophone (8, 11)
Gábor Czvikovszky - trumpet (2, 7, 14)
Mihály Borbély - tárogató (10)
Miklós Lukács - cymbal (10)


Hungarian folksongs

Menyecske,menyecske
Végigmentem a lónai nagyutcán
Lányok ülnek a toronyban
Szózat Katitzához a férfiak ügyiben (Weöres Sándor verse)
A nagy hegyeken túl
Árva madár
Arra kértem az én jóistenemet
Kivel háltál az éjjel
Szeretõm e táncba
.A nagy erdõ meséje
Winand Gábor - vocals
Balázs Elemér - drums
Juhász Gábor - guitars
Hajdu Klára - vocals
Glaser Péter - double bass
Dés András - percussion
Balázs József - piano
Közremûködik:
Palya Bea - vocals
Szalóki Ágnes - vocals
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Péter Glaser in 2005. at STUDIO 2002, Budapest.