Bágyi Balázs New Quartet - Satie in Jazz (2021)

Drummer and composer Balázs Bágyi operates his orchestra extremely energetically, they give many concerts and often perform with records. After the last disc, entitled “2020”, Balázs has now compiled the repertoire of the album from the pieces and his own compositions of the genius French composer Erik Satie (1866-1925).

Before we start analyzing the record, let’s take a look at who makes up BBNQ!

We are talking about a very illustrious company, as in addition to Balázs Bágyi's drums, Sándor Lakatos “Soso” plays saxophone, Dezső Oláh plays the piano and Péter Oláh basses.

Satie can be called a post-Impressionist author whose music was influenced by, among others, the works of his contemporaries, Ravel and Debussy, but independently of them, he created a completely individual, miraculous universe recognizable by a few voices.

Jazzists around the world have already made a lot of material that worked on a slice of Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Bartók's and I could go on and on, but I haven't come across a jazz-style disc inspired by Satie, so it might happen. that “Satie in Jazz” is the first record of its kind. If I'm wrong, I'm sorry!

On the disc you can hear three Satie pieces made by Balázs Bágyi; these are ‘Gymnopedie I.’, ‘Gnossienne I.’, and Gnossienne III. ’.

In addition to the above, three Bágyi melodies are also performed, “Satie and Me”, “Repetition I.”, and “Repetition II.”. Moreover, in addition to the orchestral version, “Satie and Me” will also be performed by Balázs Bágyi in his solo piano performance as the last “track”! I'll add, great!

Bágyi approached the original Satie works with the greatest possible taste and respect. Even when arranged for orchestra, we can hear the fabulous melodies clearly and recognizably, so that the better and better artists can perform in improvisational circles that fit the themes well.

Bágyi's compositions are ingeniously articulated, smooth, and fit into Satie's world! Balázs wrote music spiritually, essentially Satie. In the case of the two “Repetitons,” I admit honestly, at first I thought they were Satie pieces I didn’t know, but also “Satie and Me” was only “betrayed” by the title.

I can only talk about “Soso”, Dezső and Peti with the greatest appreciation, as they have once again shown that they are the treasures and gems of the Hungarian jazz scene.

“Satie in Jazz,” a jazz artist representing the top four categories, is a great encounter with one of the geniuses in music history. Here’s the proof that good music is timeless and has a place in every era!

Tracklist:

1. Satie and Me
2. Gymnopedie I.
3. Gnossienne I.
4. Gnossienne III.
5. Repetiton I.
6. Repetition II.
7. Satie and Me (piano version)