In the beginning, there was that second album, Witchi Tai To. One of its attraction of the time, the extra enhanced CD, containing not only audio and video content, photos and texts, but you could go directly to the band’s website from it. This CD, with a computer partition on it, was produced at Abbey Road Interactive Studio, behind the walls where Beatles, Pink Floyd, Kate Bush and Radiohead worked. Some radio-friendly mixes were on it too, as the main audio content, played by radio stations now and then, but this kind of media cooperation reached a break…
A photo stands as proof the four boys crossed that famous northwest-London crossing, like everybody does if walking there, but looking it more closely its actually Atti, times four. And the arabesque, Native American-design disc was released on LP and MC formats too. A year later, a VHS titled Witchi Tai To Tour came out, featuring the 1998 November gig at PeCsa, swimming in Vari*Lite lights, surrounded by Gábor Bakó’s ring of dancers.
On the album’s 15th birthday Tomi did a complete remixing from the original multitrack. He improved the sounding of the music, hence the three-dimensional feeling of the surround 5.1 version – and of course the high-grade fidelity of the acoustic instruments: even the tiniest detail, smudged on generic stereo, now comes forward. More add-ons were the live video record of the original gig from 1997, and the clip of Djabe and Coffee Break. But this is still not the final destination: in 2015 the band released a 2CD + 2DVD historic release of Witchi Tai To, with interviews, 3 hours of live video recordings in an LP-size artbook.

How these pieces of a milestone were born? Atti will guide us through the story.

I heard a few sentences at one of my archive-days, when he was dictating, the whole story to one of his employees in the office, carefully rephrasing every bit again and again. I heard that the opening Coffee Break, Muki’s most known composition, with Ferenc Snétberger manning the guitar, was thought to be a hit by the band; and actually, they were right, as its remix was often played at many radio stations, and even made it to the Juventus Radio remix-CD. Ode was pretty well known already from the second Novus Jam and first Djabe album – on the former it was under the alias Northern Adventure. The original was written by Atti, in 1994, under the influence of solo albums by David Gilmour (for me, Weather Report came to mind when listened to the main theme middle part). The Island enclosed light reflecting off the sea, photographed by Attila, and made into the piece Island (in the Novus Jam era), would be quite perfect for me, too.

 

„In the early 90s I mostly recorded my improvisations on cassette or reel-to-reel tape. Often, I found myself going through these recordings and editing them into real pieces. This is how Odyssey came to be, a simple but clean melody, at least for me. We added Sipi’s clay drum and a fretless bass guitar, and finally, Tomi made it whole. I somehow thought about sirens, these legendary sea born creatures, when listening to it; so, we asked Judit Herczeg, Tomi’s wife, to add some vocal to strengthen this siren’s song.” – said Attila.

The scenery after a refreshing rain, with sparky and obscure lights and odors, all try to send the sensitives to a kind of alpha phase. Visions After The Rain is the most „world music-like” piece on the originally made-to-order series Visions. But nobody can stop me at Early Morning Show; for me, it is the twin to Late Night Drink of the first album but made more serene by acoustic instruments. At the next ’vision’ called Cocktail Sipi’s vocal and Tomi’s bass guitar both break free. If a musical composition has depth and meaning it can withstand numerous versions, rearrangement or splitting. A fine example for this is Desert, having a main role early as the album Djabe. The four themes became three, and the second gives the first opportunity for a bass solo for Tomi – a first, but not last occasion. The movement of homecoming is a returning theme for the band: here, it takes the shape of a festivity of drum and vocal.

If there is a real African piece on the disc, it must be Visions, a composition built upon the original corporate-dance gig. The piece shows how inevitable are the masters. We can see the dance choreographed for it, at the beginning of the recording from 1997.

„I listened to the music, made by a completely different state of mind from the generic ad-type jingles and pieces. It does not want to bathe in quick and volatile success, but starts slow, builds up continuously, sometimes even repetitively, then a theme explodes and runs along with us, into an unknown world – in one word, it’s interesting.” – said Gábor Bakó, who met with Sipi and Atti in the Novus Jam era. Sipi’s vocal, kalimba and djembe brings back some antediluvian simplicity – this was the other piece, besides Djabe, that was laid to rest together with Sipi, because „without him, there’s no point in playing it”.

Roots of Gallop stretch back to Novus Jam also, as it was the joint composition of Atti and Judit.

„A piece undefinable by genre – a statement that became true for numerous Djabe compositions in the future. It’s Djabe, period.” – said by many. In its dynamics, provided by Atti and Muki, and a guitar creating a western-like atmosphere, not even far from free style. And for contrast, the saxophone-orientated Last Vision.

„Water spirit circling over my head, I’m happy to be alive.” – as some sources translate the titular Witchi Tai To. This is the only piece that is not original Djabe, but from the Native American saxophonist Jim Pepper, based on a religious song of the Native American Church, a fusion of Christian and Native American religion. A song rehashed by jazz musicians, rock bands and now, even Djabe. But why did this song become the album title? We can learn this from Atti: „It was my idea. It’s a well-known song for our potential fan base, both foreign and domestic. It makes it easy for both shops and shoppers to position our release.”

The idea came true, as this release is one of the most popular of Djabe’s discography, and until Sipi’s death the last piece featured heavily on gigs. And Witchi Tai To was the last to be played by Sipi, on his last performance in Debrecen, on the 7^th of December 2007. Did he know this is his farewell? Either way, it was worthy of him.

„Privately released, up to par.” – this was the title given to the article detailing the album press release in the journal Hajdú-Bihari Napló, by Péter Héty. He also added that the band, giving a sneak peek of the new material in Park Café Budapest, „just gathered a ton of praise with its live performance of disc-like quality.”

The multimedia method received praise even after its release, September 1998, from a journalist of Sulinet: „They released a marvelous double CD. On the first disc we find an eerie beauty of clear music, but the second brings the multimedia: four remixes almost jazz-acid, and 35 minutes of live Djabe show.”
A Student E-nek adott interjúban Sipos András ekképp fejtette ki a Witchi Tai To kapcsán világzene-értelmezését:

In an Interview for Student E, András Sipos said this about Witchi Tai To and his definition of world music: „Pro musicians often say world music is mostly amateurish, as so many play it who knows absolutely nothing about the language of music as a profession. However, its also clear that the better musician you are, the further you can fly away, because all heights have deep roots. If someone has a good enough relation with the chosen instrument then surely, that musician can let go long enough to breed something special, a musical experience to last.
The most important about world music is its unmistakable base rhythm. Sometime after you can’t even sense the difference between a shaman from Siberia and one of the Dakota people. Instrument-wise they not even close, but the rhythm, that base rhythm is the same. These are genetic codes, not to be changed. And so, we can’t ignore the basic laws of music. Instrumentally, we play world music, but spiritually, we abide the laws of music.”

We are accustomed to Djabe sharing its archive treasures with fans, or we can say they place their creations into historic scenery. And it is the same here, too. We even invited to the studio to witness the birth of a piece. Besides the original recordings we can listen and watch some portions of old gigs. As seen in the film of the 1998 tour, with Witchi Tai To, Djabe perfected the nexus of music, stage lighting (Vari*Lite) and choreography. And some more historic documentation of importance; radio and tv interviews by the band, especially some musical show led by András Sipos, mostly angklung.

„The sounding changes year by year, but this album never seemed outdated.” – said Tamás Barabás, who remixed Witchi Tai To, in an interview about the secrets of studio recording.

„The 4 disc deluxe media book version of Witchi Tai To will definitely become the paramount Hungarian release of 2015, raising the bar for future retrospective compilations. It’s self punishment not to buy this top-quality re-release of a Djabe masterpiece.” – said Jozé, a critic for Ellensúly.

It cannot be argued that the Hungarian Music Award for World Music of 2000 made into the best possible hands. In a genre only partially known by domestic fans, mostly by foreign performers. But no one even suspected then that Djabe soon will leap forward, in the spirit of freedom.
Djabe-klip
In the summer of 1998, the clip for the radio version of Djabe was made in Budapest, near Petneházy-rét. The script was written by László Nagy, director and director of photography, and by Attila Égerházi, and recorded on 35mm Kodak filmstock. Besides the band members also starred dance choreographer Gábor Bakó and his disciples. For the Djabe popularity, gave a hard push the bus clip, with an iconic, fully operational Icarus 66 type coach. A real specialty was the Vari*Lite lighting equipment used for the outdoor night shoots..

The Witchi Tai To Tour of autumn, 1998 showed off this album with one of the most memorable and spectacular gig series of Hungary. This level of quality was not accustomed to in jazz and world music band stages before. Unparalleled audio quality, Vari*Lite lighting, dancers and the music left the fans completely charmed. The tour lasted till summer of 1999.

Yoruba magic in the theater

„The Djabe quartet gave an elemental gig of world music in Nyíregyháza. Obscured lights, thick smoke, a stage packed with exotic musical instruments – this is what lucky audience of 200 was welcomed by in the Móricz Zsigmond Theater. The quartet literally charmed this audience; this young band just released its especially high-quality double CD album Witchi Tai To, and this was the base for the one-and-a-half-hour-long show (because this was a show, not a gig!).

The saxophone play of Muck, the virtuoso bass guitar play by Barabás also strengthen this statement. So, the audience sat there, in the gradually darkening auditorium, then suddenly four human-sized shadow stepped on stage just to fiddle with dong-like instruments – and then, a tropic rain started to pour! Like in Burma, in the middle of a rain forest. The sound effects were frighteningly authentic. And this is how it was, until the end of the concert. Visions After The Rain, Ode, Island, Camel Run, Desert I-III, Visions, Distant Dance. And of course, the showoff of exotic instruments also came true. The professionalism of Sipos, especially with the magic of Yoruba, was extraordinary. Soon after, when the quartet performed Javan folk music on wooden fregola-like instruments, well, the audience simply went crazy. This was a night, and a gig, to be remembered!”  – said János Kállai, Kelet-Magyarország, 1998.

 

“NEW ALBUM, NEW COLORS – I feel the most important about this album is the consistency of Djabe’s music. That consistent mentality of theirs (since Novus Jam) about musical ideals. They did this before trends, created their own musical world, and the real world just caught up with them. Djabe knows everything about music that is needed to know. Accustomed to and heeding each other, as it is evident by their compositions. Precisely composed pieces and solos that every time give the feeling of just being born. Humorous and lyrically placid, free and flowing pulsation, and lyricism changes all the time without getting sentimental. Ly-O-Lay Ale Loya means quality in a sea of mediocrity. Not some ambient music, it needs to be listened over and over to see all the colors. It’s a bridge between distant cultures, moods, emotions, and people.”
– said János Neltz, editor of Magyar Rádió, in 1999, about the 3rd Djabe album, once again reaching for Native American motives. Ly-O-Lay Ale Loya means a counter-clockwise motion, something that takes you out from the order of the world. The song became known in 1995 by the German Sacred Spirit Project (Chants and Dances of Native Americans), a New Age band supporting a foundation for Native American rights. The motive’s origin became a subject of debate: some said Ly-O-Lay Ale Loya is not Native American but Lappish. However, some music expert pointed out that the Lappish shaman singing style, called Joik, strongly resembles rites of numerous north tribes of Native Americans. Again, a bit of information highlighting the essence of World Music…
Many versions of this song are known, but the Djabe version may be the most intense, sounding like a deep mantra, not just in Sipi’s vocal but in Tomi’s bass-plea. However, this intro is just one of the many sounds on this album. Back then Djabe was not touring international, but we can almost travel around the globe with help from the excellent photos and landscape-inspired music, from the Mayan pyramids to Indonesian islands. The head tour guide is Sipi, all the percussions came to life under his hands: hand drum and rainmaker, conga and djembe (called the king of drums by him). “African folk music come into view even more than before. Congas play 1000-year old rhythms: talking to the listener’s long forgotten basic instincts, awakening them. Sometimes it calls for a dance, sometimes it’s like a monologue: distant but understandable messages.” – said Sipi in Vasárnapi Hírek. In pieces Bali Waves, Wizard of Uxmal, Playground, Bali Trees he is the hero, while he completely owns Djolé. The latter is a part of a West-African ritual blessing newlyweds or abundant harvest. Then comes the collective angklung, which became a stage tradition for the band. Even a sound-check had been recorded, with Sipi and Tomi (Atti being the sound engineer, fortunately); we can hear they’re having fun, so can we.
“Deep in the water or high in the sky – what’s the difference?” – the great question arise from the tranquil guitar Underwater Sunlight, and waiting for us inbetweeners to answer. Similar sounding color of pastel can be seen in Memory of Bells – there, the key was Sagrada Familia, as the music penetrates the building. Above The Skies is written by Attila to the memory of her mother; a chastely sad farewell on a simple nylon guitar, and a bit of Novus Jam-feeling, added by Judit Gesztelyi Nagy.
“Knowing silence – is knowing music.” – said Carl Sandburg and a critic of VH said the same about Memory of Bells: “Sandburg would say the same about this.” I envision Ferenc Móra, talking about people crying on the inside…

Final Word is a real miracle, a sum of calming, its best quality being its moderation. On this album we can feel Tamás Barabás became the hero of the band. As all highly versatile people, he also asked the question: who and what am I? This is Tomi’s answer, for Zenész Magazin, in 2000:
“I am simply a musician. As reading magazines from the USA, there the lines are not so well defined. Someone, if asked, will say: I am a bass guitarist. And will play jazz, pop, rock or anything, as anything goes. With Djabe’s newest album, I did everything I could, literally. I composed, arranged, I did the sequencer programs, played the bass, guitar, percussion. I must say, I never listened to tons of World Music, but maybe this is why I had a different approach, maybe this way Djabe’s world is more unique. Just one example: we recreated African notes by Indian instruments. We did not read the manual – this is why this music became more interesting.”
Mike Ezzo had this to say about Ly-O-Lay Ale Loya: “In sharp contrast between earlier Hungarian bands and Djabe, the latter is an international mix, completely eschewing Hungary’s traditions. They turn outward and take in many influences, traveling along the long spectrum of modern fusion, approximating Latino and other ethnic themes. The show, the record and the performance itself is 1st class. First half of the CD is full of funk and rock fusion, kind of showing the quartet in a Metheny-like or Herbie Hancock-like light. A melodic base and little impro, Djabe offers Rock listeners an experience they are not accustomed to. The star of the show is Tamás Barabás, his Jaco-inspired play delivers the missing jazz element. The second part of the album brakes out in duos and solos. My personal favorite is a wild duet between bass and congas. At the end everyone returns to a simple melodic piece, to finish the album with the frame and structure in mind – I do not see this often nowadays.”
AThis American critic of course could not know that with this release, Djabe just closed an era. The album was premiered on the Ly-O-Lay Ale Loya tour, in spring 2000. Multitrack recordings were made, the PeCsa performance in April was even recorded on video tape. This material was made into an album, released on CD, named Tour 2000. After Lay-O-Lay Ale Loya’s plastic case, Tour 2000 was housed in beautiful paper holder. Then, in the autumn they once again gone on national tour with this material, called Tour 2000. As before, all pieces got a separate and unique visual appearance, but the on-stage show changed compared to Witchi Tai To. Dancers were left out but built a mechanic canvas right in the middle of the background, sometimes descending and showing the audience cozy videos. Lighting is still based on Vari*Lite equipment, extended by these videos. The gigs played almost all Ly-O-Lay Ale Loya pieces and the first two album’s most important compositions, so all in all these performances were more than 2 hours of musical magic.

  

Djabe’s epoch-making band update happened in 2001 by the need for further development. Ferenc Muck place was taken by two soloists, or more like 3 because Ferenc Kovács enriches the band both as a trumpet player and violinist, and Zoltán Kovács (Ko) not only provides new foundations but also classical and jazz-rock inspired and makes Djabe’s music richer with his own solos. The sounds of percussion also changed, as, besides András Sipos, a classic drummer was included in Szilárd Banai: never bothering but strengthening each other. As we could experience this in Santana, Osibisa, the Airforce of Ginger Baker or the Weather Report.
Englishman Ben Castle (saxophone) and Moroccan Saïd Tichiti (vocal, gembri, percussion) also heavily featured in many recordings and gigs. This was the first year for the band to include guest musicians at gigs. The change also included the cover design: on the torn apart, then rearranged photo shows Sipi, his left side painted as an African tribal member, his right side dressed as a modern Caucasian businessman. One side can’t live without the other, just as it is in Djabe’s music; however, Sipi is more like the left side.
Our update begins with the sing of birds and tribal notes (Update is completed), then we take to the sky (Flying). I love to fly, I’ve done it over 100 times, and the ascension talks to me in music. With Flying, we reach travel altitude with Tomi’s tranquil theme, we unfasten our seat belts, accelerate to 900kmph which seems like standing still mid-air, only seeing ever-changing clouds and golden-reddish sunbeams. Meanwhile on the ground, Feri’s trumpet makes place for itself: first with a sordino, then it opens. And then, comes Ben’s saxophone. Oriental wise men say even the longest journey begins with the first step. I don’t know this is what was in the guy’s minds when composing First Step, but even this first step offers many-many directions. Lead Soldier incorporates a child-like naivitée with its 80s-sounding guitar and the following piano by Ko. Clouds Dance however, is a real evergreen of Djabe. It could even be the pair for Flying, but its scenery is lower, like a flock of seagulls soaring freely on the rhythm of Sipi and Szilu. Who can find the streams of Erdő, erdő at first listening? How can Spanish guitar, African and Turkish drums, Tibetan chimes and Hungarian folklore notes mix as a jazzy violin-piano cavalcade in only 5 minutes? Real bravado! Ben shows us two kinds of desire in Desire: a sensitive (bass clarinet) and a zealous (soprano saxophone). Tomi’s Fretless just dreams on. Mayombe is a Central-African religion of elder spirits and forces of nature. Mayombe sorcerers charm everyday objects (especially sticks and rods). Our sorcerer is Sipi, who plays an entire choir by himself, with Ben’s flute solo right behind him. Winter Forest is a beautiful piece of Atti’s lyre, with a guitar, a bass and a piano painting the silence of nature, while Ben provides life in the stillness. My Way, on the other hand, is filled by just Tomi and the Englishman. This saxophone-bass guitar duel feels intimate, almost confession-like, and the music rises questions for not just the musician but the audience, also. Barraguira shows free-virtues, with Ben responding with tenor-screams to the ‘ördöngös’ of Sipi, Szilu and Tomi. Colours is the private show of our drummer, a tasty funky-like impro summoning the atmosphere of the music of Mark King, Jaco Pastorius and Krzysztof Scieranski. Saïd also gets his chance with Ya Dellali, and right after everyone returns to update Witchi Tai To with Ben’s flute entry, and illustrating the septett’s harmony by sawn-together solos.

“I think Djabe’s power lies in reaching so many music lovers. If you like jazz, you find jazz, if you like world music, you’ll get a great experience, if you like quality prog-rock, you’ll be astonished. And maybe, just maybe we help genres open up and be more transparent, encourage other projects and productions.” – said Attila at the beginning of Update Tour, in his interview with radio journalist János Neltz.

“The musical world of Update builds upon the world music traditions of the band, while steps forward in instrumentalization and musical motifs. The audience can of course find all the exciting rhythmic and melodies incorporated by András Sipos, who was inspired by African and Arabic sources. At the same time the soloists (Ben Castle, Ferenc Kovács and Tamás Barabás) also give quality performance, both music-wise and technique-wise. Tamás Barabás composed the content of this album from his and Attila Égerházi’s ideas. The audience can see and hear a musical (and stage) performance unique to the Hungarian music scene in both style and quality.” – written on Zene-net.

Nowadays many bands release the raw material of some of their albums: rehearsals, recording sessions, pre-finalized versions, but only 20-30 years after the initial release. Djabe, on the other hand, gave this treat to its fans in 2002 titled “Everything you want to know about Update”. They felt like this material is a value in itself. The band and its fans both were gratuitous for the affection: they let them in to show the most intimate part of Djabe’s mechanics. Update received a nomination for the Hungarian Music Award, and then the second most important of domestic awards, the eMeRTon in jazz/world music category, and launched the band for towards international success. AS we all know, during the 2001 album premiere tour in Hungary, Djabe received its first invites to Csáktornya (Cakovec, Croatiia) and Pozsony (Brartislava, Slovakia)

 

The making of the album ‘Sheafs are Dancing’ was inspired by the paintings of Imre Égerházi. In terms of editing method, one painting – one composition. Pieces are subscribed to Tamás Barabás and Attila Égerházi, with the addition of Ferenc Kovács and Zoltán Kovács in case of a few tracks. The album was the most successful release of the time by Djabe, and raised many heads in the professional scene across the world. It was the beginning of international success for the band. The album was nominated for MAHASZ Award in ‘best world music recording’ category in 2003. The disc itself is contained in a hard-case book of the paintings, hence the listener can enjoy the visual while playing the album. It was the first Djabe album to feature Steve Hackett, a beginning for many future releases and joint tours. His acceptance of Égerházi’s offer was more of a personal decision: Steve is quite fond of the art of painting, because of his father, and ex-wife. The next step was the release of the album’s new surround version where paintings could be enjoyed on the screen, too. This was the first DVD-Audio release of Djabe, and the first Hungarian release of this kind. The release was praised even by the audio engineers of Abbey Road where the authoring process taken place. It even received a PRince Award for ‘best multimedia release’ – not without a reason as the visual content consisted of not only paintings, but nearly a 100 creations and documentary videos of Imre Égerházi, including an animation clip of his near-death experience-inspired work ‘Iceworld’ and 6 other paintings, connected to it. The base for this unique experience was the painter’s own near-death experiences, his interview can be listened to as an audio commentary for the aforementioned animation clip. Furthermore, a partial video of the album premiere tour and a road movie is also included on the disc. The extra content was praised even in Los Angeles, and nominated for Surround Music Award in ‘extra content’ category. The multimedia experience was further developed along the premier tour, both video and audio wise. Music in surround not only existed in studio version but gigs were also presented in 5.1 sound. The band again returned to using background projections to show the title paintings, and other connecting creations and videos by Imre Égerházi which inspired the paintings. The gig started with a biography film about Imre Égerházi. This exemplary cross-art span was concluded in a gig at New Orleans Club, Budapest, Hungary in January 2004. The room next to the concert hall housed an exhibition of the paintings featured on the album. The visually augmented experience was followed by an unplugged version of the album. The 2-year long multimedia tour spawned the double-DVD album ‘Sheafs were dancing’, featuring multiple openings for Imre Égerházi expos, as Djabe performed regularly after 2004, the success of the unplugged concert. In 2016 the album was re-released with hard cover matching the original but featuring a double-CD format, with an extra concert disc. The release featured the title in English, an effect of the growing international success. The backbone of the content was the Tour 2003 Budapest material. One of the videos is from 2004, featuring saxophonist Viktor Tóth as band member and was recorded in the New Orleans Club. The last recording on the disc shows the 2015 joint concert with the Miskolc Symphonic Orchestra, performing together in the Bartók Béla National Concert Hall of Müpa. Djabe’s longtime dream came through with the birth of symphonic versions of ‘Flying’ and ‘Iceworld’.

In 2004 Djabe irrevocably became a global phenomenon. At the Kaunas Jazzfest they were headliners with Randy Brecker, Roy Hargrove and Earth Wind and Fire Experience. This was followed by the Rochester International Jazz Fest and Washington, USA in the summer, then the first joint concert with Steve Hackett, in London. The end of the year found them in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Hercegovina. In 2005 they performed at Burghausen Jazzwoche and the gig was aired globally by BB Alpha TV. Djabe went to the Stockholm and Pori Jazz Festivals and the world-famous Czech Jazz Goes to Town event. Over the Atlantic it was once again Baltimore and Washington, in the latter attending in the famous Blues Alley. In the summer the band performed in Bulgaria the first time. In the autumn they were called back to Munich and Regensburg, Germany. In 2006 the Polish and Italian audience finally had the chance to meet Djabe, and they returned in the USA, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Croatia, Lithuania, Finland and performed in Berlin, Germany. Viktor Tóth (alt saxophone) became a full member of the band in 2004 and helped build the fame of Djabe till summer 2005 when instead of himself he sent only a message to the recording of Slices of Life saying he is quitting (despite the album was composed with the saxophone in mind being a major element). Members decided against recomposing and asked their friend and fellow musician Ben Castle to record the saxophone for them. Ben did a splendid job, but with his schedule it was impossible to perform live with him. During the composing of this album Tamás Barabás and Attila Égerházi took the experiences of international tours and festival appearances into consideration. They felt these large-audience, often outdoor events need something with a faster tempo, with more momentum. In this spirit Omachule, Doromb, Hajsza a Ménes után, Indian Experience and City of Habi were born.

Slices of Life released in CD and surround DVD format, the latter with a 50-min concert film recorded in New Orleans Club featuring Viktor Tóth in 2004 (a rare video material with him performing while his somewhat brief membership). The album also released in Thailand by HITMAN Records (Bangkok) in 2010.

The Hungarian title (Életképek, in English “Life pictures”) implies that the visual experience is still the determinative element with Djabe and themselves marketed this album as a sequel to Kazlak, the English title paints a bit sharper image than the pastel colors of the last release. One thing is sure, the band (strengthened by Ben Castle on saxophone) has no shortage in witty solutions and unexpected shifts. Of course, we know the quality of a piece is in no way related to the length of it but surely, we should notice that all tracks are 7 minutes or longer (with the exception of the closer Night in Kolkata). Examine the opening Doromb where the ancient metallic instrument gets a part. The deeply vibrating and resonating sound shifts (with the needed rhythm-support) into a somewhat Mexican trumpet-saxophone duo while Ferenc Kovács smuggles his verbunkos with Zoltán Kovács not far behind with a piano rush, Sipi giving out ecstatic sounds and there’s a cacophonic part that is only comparable to Mothers of Invention from 1967-68. Wondering that it was a big hit?

Message from Iceworld connects to the Iceworld of Kazlak with its opening, its like hearing the sounds of the first lines of the Hungarian National Anthem but following this ethereal opening and the percussion a multi-player ice dance ensures, punctuated with fortissimo jumps. Sigh is rather philosophic with the re-return of the main movement and the partial drum solo and the answer to this philosophic question is in the closer allegro. And another hungaro-cubano and another hit, Omachulé. Not only Sipi mixes things up without end but all members are doing their best in this most joyful piece about connecting the Great Hungarian Plain with the Caribbean. Rush for Ménes is about contrast between the peace of said plains and horses broken free in a thunderstorm. Waterfall is about the natural beauty and sparkle of a waterfall without recreating nature sounds or a rushing column of water. The title piece Slices of Life is a joy-music born from lyre while City of Habi takes us into a fairy world and with its simple base reminds us of the Djabe song with solos of Feri and Ben showing us not equatorial Africa but the gates of an oasis, seen from the sunburnt desert. Children’s Room features a kid orchestra in it and as inordinate and lovable like a real child’s room. Indian Experience summoning India is only a pretense, the real surprise is the entry of Echo quartet’s miniature string quartet at the end, gently leading us to the closing piece.

Djabe once again had no problems with critics. This is from the pen of Katalin Farkas (Magyar Rádió): “When the band sent me this latest album, I knew I’ll be in for another great musical experience and they delivered! I liked the colorful Slices of Life, the exceptional and innovative arrangement and above all the perfect virtuoso solos, the intoxicating pulsation all reminiscent of older compositions but with jazz elements much more mature and expressive, stepping out from the world of Pannonian Basin folk music and moving towards rich and colorful motifs. Congratulations!”

Criticism of Péter Héty (Tájoló): “When I recommended the band’s very fist album to the jazz music editor of Magyar Rádió they backed out saying it’s not jazzy enough. This concern is no more as starting from the early World music sounding Djabe plays mature and unique jazz now. Featuring numerous sub-genre characteristics from softer to fusion Jazz-Rock, sometimes in the same composition but without becoming eclectic. Meanwhile it is still easy on the ears and rich in melody, all in the good sense of course. Compared to earlier works the Afro-Latin sounding of András Sipos takes a back seat while Tamás Barabás, one of Hungary’s best bass guitarist, gets more ‘Eastern’ tasks and the rhythm section of precise drummer Szilárd Banai receives more spotlight, just like the winds by Ferenc Kovács and the talented young Englishman Ben Castle. An interesting closing motif is the short string quartet arranged by Tamás Barabás. Sounding is a first-rate audiophile experience and much more complex than before, sometimes becoming quite symphonic. The knowledge of these experienced musicians is paired with being well-equipped considering both technical and instrumental elements. This album’s real virtue is that it can be enjoyed by both audiophiles and those who only want something entertaining to listen to.

The opinion of Bu-Jazz (Exit Magazin): “The last album of Djabe, Sheafs Are Dancing, is a memorable bit of the Hungarian musical scene. Combining World music with Jazz with clear and articulate results, Djabe’s new album (almost completely composed by Tamás Barabás, the bass guitarist of the band) is likely to receive even more praise. Featuring saxophone player Ben Castle (he is also on the last two albums) this is a logical sequel to the album before. It is more dynamic, more sweeping with the virtuoso play and the pronounced solos. However, it is still very admissible, so the success is even more prominent than before. Djabe once again elegantly widen its borders and became unavoidable in its own class.”

This writing from Pannon Jazz in January 2006 is not even just a criticism of the album but tried to put this newest work in context with the band’s career so far:

“When the fist Djabe album with no separate title got released in 1996 this band was one of many promising jazz bands here in Hungary. The following years ever better albums of both musical and technical quality released while we had a grasp of organizing and management skills too watching them at gigs. These skills are not generally possessed by jazz musicians (or civilians) the results of the band’s unfolding are becoming quite clear. The press nowadays is loud from Djabe’s international success and evidences of this success are released in the form of albums. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not yet talking about Slices of Life but the Goes to Festivals released in 2005 featuring recordings of gigs from USA, Pori and Stockholm. This is not just some promise! The material features two more tracks: a preview for Slices of Life. The advert succeeded, at least with me as I eagerly awaited the new release, especially the piece Doromb by Tamás Barabás (this became the opening for Slices). I maybe using words a bit too large but in this piece, there is really a compilation of a 1000 years of musical history. The purring sounds at the beginning summon something from ancient times mixed with so much momentum it could envied even by Vágtázó Halottkémek. In the interesting jumpers some verbunkos-like elements are mixed into, somewhat referencing the Hungarian Reform Era. At the end of the composition the saxophonist Ben Castle injects mainstream jazz mood with his solo. The continuations are some pulsating lyres but there is still much more. Omachulé gives the opportunity for András Sipos to be the center of attention with his vocalization and jocularity, and deservingly so, just like the solo of Tamás Barabás. Hajsza a ménes után shows us what would it be like if Al Di Meola born as a Hungarian as I’m sure he would have written something like this not Race With Devil on Spanish Highway. In a way Attila Égerházi worked with this instead of him! After the trickling Waterfall comes a slowdown with the title piece, but blows us away nonetheless, not letting us go for 4 more tracks. The exotic and mystical City of Habi is contrasted by the peaceful fuss of Children’s Room. Images of far away lands summoned by Indian Experience through the thoughts and consciousness of real European musicians. Night in Kolkata prepares us for saying goodbye but not by Djabe but the string quartet of ladies, the Echo Quartet. Music ends after almost 80 minutes, but the experience lingers on. The world-jazz fusion genre (defined by Ben Castle) here shifts towards jazz but without harming the connection to the other. But the most important thing: Djabe discography just got enriched with something really valuable!”

As it can be expected, the CD of Slices of Life was only the first to be released. Only 3 months later (February 2006) came the 5.1 surround DVD with the aforementioned New Orleans Club video material, a live TV recording of Hajdúböszörményi utcarész and a travel journey from 2005 about the gigs in Pori and Stockholm. The latter was found reaching beyond the current material by Sándor Olasz (Rockinform): “Not just because only a handful of Hungarians get to travel to these places, so it is fundamentally interesting. More so because it indicates how much interest (pretty much) can an unknown band gather up North.”

Slices of Life tour

The album was once again premiered with a great tour. The complete album material was played at the gigs, with only 3 acoustic pieces added from other albums (Venezia from the first Djabe CD, Virágcsendélet and the second movement of Tájak titled Alkony a tengerparton from Sheafs Are Dancing; the encore was also chosen from this album: Fátyol mögött). Considering visuals all pieces got different identity. Once again, the top-quality intelligent lighting was the base for the stage presence. Projector and surround were absent this time. At this tour the habit of asking a member of the audience to join the band on stage to play the angklung became a tradition. On the international part of the tour more compositions were added but still, the Slices of Life remained the main attraction of the gigs.

Many foreign critics wrote praises about Djabe. This is from Jeff Spevak (Rochester, 2004):

How does Hungarian jazz sound like? Get a light-hearted jazz played by 7 guys looking like van drivers and shower them in paprika. Spice it up with Eastern Europe folk sensitivity and of course a Hungarian violin. The audience of the main tent just soaked it all up.”

When returning to Rochester in 2006 a summary was published by Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: “Like a Buster Pindexter goulash the roots and retro profanity of traditional Hungarian music takes a real jazzy slap in the face from Djabe with the genius bass play by lead composer Tamás Barabás and the Hungarian 6-member team around him. Their polyrhythmic play gets more momentum from brass instruments and has a potential to crash but in the end, it dances on both legs. In any genre or groove. Unexpected, unique and entertaining.”

The tour was released multiple times. Best moments of both local and foreign got pieced together on the double CDs of Message from the Road. The second disc was a dual disc with the DVD side featuring the complete concert material in 5.1 and a 1-hour film made mainly from foreign TV recordings of the gigs. The added media book shows us the atmosphere of said gigs. The 2006 PeCsa performance became a DVD release titled Slices if Live, but work got protracted by the sad and untimely passing of András Sipos in 2007: the album only made it to the stores in 2012. Besides the concert film there are many extras on it.

“Djabe plan to continue the work even harder in 2008. We’ll finish Take On. Official release date for the CD is the 18^th of February. DVD-Audio with extras will be released on the 27^th of March. With the new album a tour will commence in 2008, through Europe, North America and Asia. Djabe will continue as a quintet, as position of the irreplaceable András Sipos will not be filled” – stated by a press release of the band.
Take On has the touch of András Sipos all over it, literally. All the percussion parts were played by him and vocals were recorded with only 3 exemptions. This unparalleled momentum surfaces in the opening Take On and later an amalgam of African rhythms, the violin of Öcsi and the tar of Malik Mansurov can be heard in Kilinama. This unison is quite peculiar: Steve is right to compare Malik to John McLaughlin. This duo makes the audience remember MacLaughlin and Jerry Goodman performing in the Mahavishnu Orchestra.
Then And Now has something timeless about it, mostly because of the piano and the saxophone play of John Nugent. This is the first time of the American musician and manager of Rochester Festival as a guest star, who also introduced Djabe overseas. The same can be felt in Attila’s short, meditative solo, but the duo of Tomi and Szilu pauses the piece like a crossroad. The Latino-like Butterfly summons bands of the 60s, like Herb Alpert’s Tijuana Brass and Sergio Mendes’ Brasil ’66, in its main theme, as Feri knows even this kind of trumpet play method. At Night, nomen est omen, starts with a dreamlike trumpet but speeds up by Sipi, Tomi and Ko. Dreams can change rhythms, too, sometimes so disturbingly we even wake up from them! And another Latino-like, but different from the others: Los Sipos, a song to remember the Percussionist, played by himself. But even without him, this piece cannot be absent from the Djabe repertoire. Loose, easy, playful, dynamic and filled with joy – like the Sipi we remember.
Crazy Morning is rushing, flustering and short, with solos unfinishing, maybe only John gets some space. Opening sounds of Afro Dance could come from Graceland of Paul Simon (sorry for the numerous similes but musical parallels meet not in the infinite but in ourselves). Of course it changes all over again with vertigos of Ko and the again-guest starring Ben Castle, and at the end Attila’s electronic guitar widens the horizon of seeable sounds. Wind and Bells only have piano runs for disturbance, but where did this Indian drum imitation came from, followed by a funky saxophone and gypsy music that makes you want to dance? Sándor Budai and his band delivered as expected… the album’s most complex, surprising piece, my personal favorite! The African and Hungarian musical unison gets a great example in Sárika, with characteristic Sipi-vocals and a tone stretched till the Carpathians by Öcsi. End Of A Beautiful Day couldn’t be any other place than at the end of the album. The last (?) piece with Sipi, an end of an era. I imagine a video clip: Sipi steps out from the studio in Ráday street, walks along the street, looking back once more and says something, with unruly eyes, then continues his walk to the tram stop, camera gains distance and his figure fades away…
The album soon released in double side DVD, the video side sporting a 50-min recording of Sipi’s last gig, in Debrecen, Hungary at 7^th of September, 2007. This makes the passing and the rite of remembrance complete.
“Even after the tragic loss, Djabe is stronger then ever. A proof of this is the charity and memorial concert for Sipi, made real by the band and Steve Hackett. Or the freshness and power of the album Take On. The new CD is a worthy successor for the band’s traditions, the represented musical value of theirs. The composing skills of Tamás Barabás integrate the knowledge of all the band members, resulting a new level of quality. Compositions are fresh, unique but nonetheless familiar. World music from Hungary and Azerbaijan, with jazz by multiple approach. Gigs are for showing this in full for the audience” – a Djabe revival-review by hzo.hu site.
Another fairly positive review was concluded by the Slovenian critic Rok Podgrajšek, giving 8/10 for Take On.
“You don’t hear the name of Djabe exactly mentioned on every street corner, or even at jazz or progressive rock gatherings. Djabe have sort of become lost within the boundaries of progressive rock, jazz and world music. They belong to each of these genres and to none of them. Their music surpasses simple genre definitions, which is a great credit to their music, but it also means that it hasn’t really found a niche. Recently, Djabe have been hit with a great tragedy with the loss of their singer and percussionist Sipos András, also known as Sipi. Take on features the last recordings Sipi ever made with the band. The album also includes a composition dedicated to Sipi, with the Genesis-influenced title of Los Sipos. This album has everyone that is great about Djabe, including an excellent live performance at the Debrecen Jazz Days. Djabe have a recognisable sound and it’s hard to mistake them for anyone else, but still every album is nothing like the rest. Because Djabe are not restricted by genre definitions and any other restrictions, they can just about use any combination of influences at any given moment. This gives them plenty of room to build and they make good use of it. While their main idiom of expression is almost always jazz (on this record as well), they always find ingenious ways to incorporate other musical elements, even when you would least expect them. Thus we hear plenty of world music influences, Latin music (Los Sipos), Romani (gypsy) music, folk, rock and occasionally even classical. It may sound chaotic, but actually Djabe make the music flow like a river and with a resounding musical quality to touch the deepest recesses of your heart. Their music is not only full of intelligent twists and turns, but also so full of feeling. You can truly feel their love for their music and it is reflected in the composition.”
Podgrajšek also praised the idea of a double-sided DVD. He liked the idea not just because it is a respectful way to remember Sipi:
“However, this was the last live performance of Sipi with the band, a week before his death and the band felt that under the circumstances it had to be released. It is a good choice because on one album you get the last Djabe studio album as well as a live performance, where Djabe are arguably at their best. Their free compositions are given even more freedom and room to manoeuver. Djabe are a very relaxed band with a fondness for performing and this can definitely be seen in this show as well.”

For Djabe 2010 started in Sarajevo, followed by Madrid and Thailand In August, the formation ‘Djabe special guest Steve Hackett’ started an Eastern Europe tour in Kaliningrad, Russia and Budapest, Hungary (the latter was the Djabe 15 extra gig). The tour continued in Debrecen and Pécs, Hungary, then travelled to Wien and Sofia and went to the Bansko Festival. After the Serbian Nisville Jazz Festival the tour ended in Belgrade. All the Hungarian gigs were recorded and released later on double CD; the first disc takes its material from the Debrecen show, the second from Pécs. Besides audio, concert video clips also made it to the discs: on the first a Serbian TV material from Nisville, the second shows portions of the Malaysian concert.
Critique of János Gregorits, a critic for JazzMa:
„This double album sports the recordings of a tour from Russia to Bulgaria. Djabe invited Steve Hackett (legendary guitarist for Genesis), who wrote a tour blog for the album (I never known Vladimir Vysotsky, a Russian singer-songwriter and actor, tragically died at a 42, has a monument in Kaliningrad) Hackett brought 4 compositions (partially his own, 2 of them are Genesis pieces) with him. Best of the lot is In That Quiet Earth, especially with Hackett’s play. I don’t want to say that Djabe’s musical finesse needed this, but the co-writer added an extra genuineness. The members of Djabe are quite versatile musicians able to bring forth numerous genres (and of course mix them) that Mr. Hackett rather have a disadvantage, being more one-sided. Just say it: we are jazz musicians, and on this front Steve Hackett can’t keep up with Djabe. Of course, this does not come into play as the guest does his own style while the band keeps in rhythm with him. The chemistry was perfect. For the most part I took liking to the Djabe original pieces, especially Erdő, Erdő and Doromb. My not-so-secret jazz-loving means I like the latter more, with its bebop-feel giddy theme played in bass guitar unison! No question, Tamás Barabás on bass is in his own class, a fact he perfectly demonstrated with this opening piece. Zoltán Kovács is sublime as a keyboardist with great technique, his jazzy phrasing gave my ear a real good feel. I don’t want to get too boring: all the members are superb, but let me say a few words about Ferenc Kovács, who plays the trumpet and violin, and do the vocal. I had the pleasure to write about him back in 1996 in my critique about Túl a vízen by Dresch-kvartett. I can say the same now: Kovács is unbelievable on trumpet and violin, can’t even choose which I like better. Maybe the violin, but its up to personal taste. Attila Égerházi’s guitar play is as great as his composing skills, he is a dominant person in Djabe. Szilárd Banai is the foundation of the band with his drums, his play is skilled and up to par, just like Áron Koós-Hutás on his trumpet.”
Steve and Djabe did not let go the teamwork here: beginning November 2010 the band’s albums are available on hackettsongs.com, also. Remember: the whole thing started with Gramy Records releasing Steve’s albums…
Before the tour with Steve, in June 2010 the band went to Rochester, almost like a vacation. This was the 4th time John Nugent invited them, and they did 4 full-house gigs. Next stop Bucharest, the next Luxembourg City. Then another gig at the Romanian Garana Jazz Festival. On the latter gig and in Bucharest Áron Koós-Hutás played instead of Feri. In 2009 he substituted for Kovács on Crete and at two gigs on Slovenia, too. In September they went together to Brest, Belarus.

Sorry, this chapter is only available in hungarian.

“The title Update was deliberate. Just like Down And Up, the one before. The band had it hard after 2008 but was able to get back on its feet. Almost 4 years has passed since the Take On. We wanted to show we moved on and with the inclusion of the Miskolc Symphonic Orchestra colors and space were expanded on the disc. We always try to keep what’s Djabe for but bring newer and newer elements. Compositions were made basically to give space for the symphonics.” – Attila Égerházi, release of Update (Népszava)

Since then I heard this disc countless times, and of course live too. Yet, I inclined to reach for an earlier criticism by Gepnarancs.hu:
“Sound chakras of freedom
Sound does not have a separate chakra in humans, neither does freedom. And yet, what need do we have to hear and say the sounds of freedom. Luckily humanity has music, this endless, far away yet here-on-Earth dimension. With bits and pieces of the Big Bang, different for every listener, never stopping, never freezing, always going forward, especially when we are unable to shake our self-made ball and chain. With this sound chakra we can gather power to move forward on the road unknown. And this is exactly what Djabe does (once again) with its new album, Forward. The overture starts with the Orchestra, and after a little while the musicians of the band join in – it’s majestic and interestingly playful, serious and inordinate at the same time.
What secrets does our shining maze hides? Lava Lamp is a witch’s cauldron and a white-hot crater and in tis center an eastern fairy world can be heard with genies broke free from their lamps and with wizards conjuring winds. The ancient string instrument of Malik Mansurov, the tar blends into Ferenc Kovács’ s trumpet, John Nugent’s saxophone and Steve Hackett’s guitar with clarity, the motifs becoming one big flower-covered bed. Hang Out tells us not to rush but look around and let feelings, colors and scents close to us and let them settle to make our souls rich with serenity while it also helps us find the rhythm of our breathing with the exotic drums of Gulli Briem, the smiling Icelandic giant. Could it be that only I can hear Arabic, Turkish and Klezmer notes from Mr. East, their co-dependence injected into a vertigo of raga? Subtitles of Life Spirit are helpfully guiding us as it is about a journey through a forest (“midway upon the journey of our life”), meditative notes about becoming one with nature and could be interpreted as somewhat Genesis-like: not only Djabe effects Steve but also the other way around. Wind Tale is the piece of audible pastel colors based on recordings from 2004. Here the inaugurated percussion plays of András Sipos (one of the founders) can be heard. The closer My Day, where band and orchestra blends into each other reminds me to the philosophical truth of living a perfect day is like living a perfect life. And net day everything begins anew. Just like Djabe, with every single album while staying true to themselves.”
A critic of the site Dalszöveg.hu felt the same way I did:
“Forward should be listened only if we have the time to delve into the instrumental layers and atmospheres, and we can shoot our inner movie for it. The title is only a recommendation, with no vocals it is a real unbound experience for every listener.”
Sándor Olasz, a critic of Riff and a long-time follower of Djabe also gave a very positive criticism of the album while also confirmed the band is on the right road:
“In my opinion the requirements for a prevalent fusion between a band (be it rock or jazz or anything) and a symphonic orchestra are these: time, innovation, money. What do you think? I thought I must clarify. Why do I think time is the most important? Because only in a reputable band, successful in its own right, which achieved almost everything in its own category and tried almost every variation, should surface the need for such endeavor. (Let’s quickly forget about the business-based pop types.) Innovation? Yes, it is needed, even now. You cannot succeed by ripping off your own old and well-known pieces with a few sad musicians. New compositions are needed, born and raised for symphonic inclusion. And of course, money… a cooperation with an orchestra costs much, and this “much” need to come from somewhere. However, my solid opinion is that the inner need and credibility are the most important things. Djabe, born under a lucky star, once again supported by their guardian angel and their artistic judgment. Listening to the first piece not knowing what CD you just started you could never say it’s Djabe until the first one third of it because of the dominance of the Miskolc Orchestra. Along the road, however, comes Szilu’s unmistakably tight drumming, followed by the two Kovács with one solo each, and of course Tamás Barabás on the bass. Slowly the picture clears up. In order to make it clear what we are listening to in Lava Lamp (and later in Mr. East) the symphonics are absent. Instead of them we have (along with the Djabe crew) Steve Hackett, Gulli Briem, Malik Mansurov, John Nugent and Ron Stackman. Not a bad line-up, right? This is not the complete guest list; this is only for that one piece! It’s a kind of sparkling and colorful yet compact and weighty almost symphonic sounding so no complaint about hearing it on this exact album. If only we had words instead of amazement. The slowly opening lyrical and mystical Hang Out (with vocalist support) can became a fan favorite of the disc. Twin Pines is a typical Djabe piece, with short but powerful backing from the symphonics. However, Mr. East is a real rarity in its own as never been a Djabe-piece before so eastern in every bit. Now there is! New Worlds give the opportunity to show off the family: Sára Kovács (daughter of Ferenc Kovács) and Sára Égerházi (daughter of Attila Égerházi) have their parts in the piece but this is not the only thing that is going on. Pay attention to the moment when the Orchestra switches to (almost) metal! Life Spirit is a 3-level mini suite: basically, it is lyric where the Orchestra “counts”: underlines, adds. Wind Tale is history come alive: it features 2004 recordings showing not only the ex-member Viktor Tóth but the late András Sipos, a founder of Djabe. Finally, in My Day really comes my day, always when I listen to this fantastic CD (quite often). There is a moral to this story: Djabe plus Orchestra equals explosion. Be careful with the volume setting, don’t blow out the walls.

How was this album born? How do the band members see it after a year? These are the questions I asked on a studio day mentioned in my Djabe-journal.
Tamás Barabás: “The Djabe sounding evolved along the past years we can already hear into the symphonics: sometimes an orchestra, sometimes a string group rises on the synthesizer. I always hoped that one time we can work with an orchestra. Nowadays it is popular with bands to re-arrange their old pieces for an orchestra or include them in new ones. Here we weren’t going for this as I tried to compose for the orchestra to be one of its own, not only a part of the arrangement. Therefore, we let them play by themselves in the overture with us entering later. It was no easy task to find the right ratio, to keep the Djabe sounding but also have all instruments play, especially with the fortissimos. On the other hand, with the lyrics it was evident what to write for the Orchestra.
My Day was the last to be composed and I felt we need a bass-based piece. It was born like this: I wrote a part on bass and then added everyone else, with me returning to bass motifs multiple times. When finished even I felt surprised what became of this piece that started to be so simple. It was a treat for me.
I always take the musical and human individuality of the band members and guests into account. I know what they like to play, how they like to play, what feels right for them. Without this empathy towards them this whole thing could not work at all. For example, for Malik there is Mr. East. I listened to many tar plays from that region but Malik told me these motifs are not from Azerbaijan but from the neighborhood, Iran. Nonetheless, he felt it as his own, and later asked for the music sheets for performing it with his own band. I never thought I can show him something new…”

Ferenc Kovács: “When the time came for me to record for this album a really beautiful picture of it has emerged and I felt good, I could feel things only to surface later, at the live performance. It was a very complex and serious piece of work even then and it was only to be expanded. And these pieces still have a future. On this album every single composition is loveable because it has some larrikin and pretty parts and our audience responds well to this diversity.

Zoltán Kovács: “A symphonic album was in our heads for years now. In November 2013 we performed with the Miskolc Symphonic Orchestra. Steve was there too, and I arranged two of his pieces for strings. The later cooperation blossomed from this nexus. Then, the April deadline crept on us. I and Tamás was in daily contact with the orchestra. First, I received from him the particello then files containing concepts for expanded orchestra versions. It was a hard and strict duty but as they say, deadline is the best muse.
There are two pieces on the album where the orchestra is absent but are whole, nonetheless. Of course, I would mention Forward first, but I wouldn’t rank after that. Another great experience for me: at the academy I was required to conduct but very rarely had anyone to conduct, and now it was fantastic to coordinate this many people, to make their concepts into reality. They were quite open with us and we received a ton of positive feedback. Classical musicians usually are open-minded when it comes to performing with less strict limits.

Attila Égerházi: “Besides we composed a somewhat regular material we needed to shift up as we needed to think in a much bigger sound stage not in a Djabe symphonic where a piece has strings instead of synth. Here a 57-member orchestra operated, strings, winds, harp, celeste… For the orchestra sheets we had a composer in house, Zoli Kovács, who had no problem composing the pieces imagined by Tamás. Finally, pieces became just what the guys imagined. Everyone was enthusiastic. Szilárd asked us to let him record his drums at home, but Feri also put himself on the line. I think the results can clearly be heard. We could rely on our friends: Steve, John Nugent, Gulli Briem, Malik Mansurov (who had a much bigger role we originally planned). The only reason we didn’t include them in more pieces is that way those would be impossible to perform without them. By the way Djabe members would be enough but we are accustomed to being open-minded and receiving inspiration from our guests, and we love to channel this towards our audience.
My favs? From my own compositions, definitely Life Spirit, born from a strong inner motivation. The wave that carries through it mirrors changes in my own spiritual state, with the end transforming into something instinctually Genesis-like. In the middle I play on classic guitar with the Orchestra backing me and I am very proud of this sounding like as it is. Another great experience was the piece we try to do since 2004: Wind Tale was started by Sipi and me long time ago. My old friend and peer can be heard in this one – and not by some track subtracted, this is a then-begun and now-finished composition and recordings. From Tamás I really like the closer My Day where the whole band backs the bass guitar. I waited for a long time for Tamás to do a fretless bass-based composition. I love Forward, its symphonic part has a life of its own – as it does on the LP version. One of my favs is Mr. East, composed precisely for Malik by Tamás.

Szilárd Banai: “It is definitely a milestone of Djabe. When I recorded my drums, the symphonic recordings were yet to be done so I only heard the final stuff. This is an album that can be listened to anytime as it has so rich a sounding, so colorful, so diverse. Although it’s not typical of me to listen to anything I feature in.
I done a portion of my recordings at home so it was a good experience not to start a studio day by packing, boxing, filling up a van, drive for kilometers, unpack in the studio, unbox, connect everything and when finally able to play there is no energy and spirit left in me. This joy can be felt on the album. Piano and bass parts were made in the same manner. It’s a really big deal that technically this can be done.
With Gulli we have something of a nexus, something that works for both of us. He is also a very sensitive musician and pays attention to every detail. We both approaches drumming from the musical side. With our instruments there are plenty workmen around and much less artists. Of course, there is plenty to learn but you also need to forget those because it is very important to listen to your inner, instinctual voices, not rely on what you learned. It’s simple but rare. Gulli has this and this is why we understand each other, both as musician and as an individual.

As referenced by Attila, Forward continued the series of Djabe LPs. This is a double vinyl with the 4th side dedicated to the Forward Symphonic Suite and the other 3 contains the original material of the CD. For a treat the CD is also included, with videos of the recordings done by the Orchestra and the band, titled Strings are Moving Forward. Not long after a DVD-Audio format also released.
This consistent LP project and releases in multiple formats were visited in an interview with Attila, published by Gramofon in the Autumn of 2014:
“For the artist the goal is to finish the musical product. It can be finished as a digital format, but physical medium gives a lot extra to it. There is the cover, expanding the world of said product with an artwork that can provoke thoughts, support the content, especially in the case of the so-called conceptual albums. It is evident the Bakelite or vinyl format endured, so the experience provided by a turntable considering quality and sound characteristics, it requires a more serious listening and cannot be replaced. It’s not the same as listening to music in the car on a CD or coming from the computer in the background. This is something to motivate the artists…”
Luckily the fandom of physical media starts to reemerge as does the music listening culture. I think digital downloads cannot completely eradicate the physical media and we consciously vouch for these formats as long as possible. We plan for a long, long time. We hope our music will be of interest from 50 or 100 years from now and if it exists on numerous physical media it has a greater chance of survival. Digital download can reach so many places but if the servers ever get erased there is no way back…”

We are invited for a science experiment. The like of which many want to conduct, by invoking any method: to expose ever more time and space. There’s no need for spaceships, large telescopes or hadron colliders, just some imagination and of course five musicians and a few guests. This is how 20 Dimensions invites us (the title on the cover is also featured in binary, as 10100). The cover photo features 12 hands in action (Feri stars twice as he plays both the trumpet and the violin).
With the sci-fi esqe overture and the also mystical close (more on that later) we hear 20 pieces close context to each other. 9 new pieces linked by 9 transitions, the latter born from the improvisations of band members and guest musicians. As accustomed to Djabe there is no two with the same tempo, structure or mood, but still, all of them fits together and makes a whole: the new pieces can be interpreted as moments of wonderment about a newer dimension while Transitions show us the strange excitement of travel.
Sensitive World is a lively Rock-Jazz piece with John Nugent as guest, while Sunday Afternoon builds around a child song-like motive started and ended by Feri Kovács and Zoli Kovács with their artistic piano-violin duo. 4000 is a kind of prank as after 2 minutes of slow and meditative keyboard comes an explosion of bass by Tomi Barabás to pump it up. It’s no surprise that after this strolling and rushing shifts constantly. In Space Castle there is nothing space-like but we can imagine Earth’s numerous areas featuring in this cosmos, from the Balkans and the Arab world to India (with tablas played by Tibi Mótyán), while the piano and Ben Castle’s soprano saxophone summons the mainstream of 70s USA, and Szilu creates something unstoppable on his drums. Waves From The System dissolves from Attila’s guitar accords, making place for a freedom of musical associations and genre shifts unseen before.
Here, Tomi lets his signature-like slap loose and we even get a bit of the psychedelic. In Intermission the atmosphere of Ice World and Life Spirit makes an appearance, the former by Feri’s majestic trumpet, the latter by Atti’s guitar play – and became one of the most loved pieces. In Arena 87 Tomi gives a baseline on synthesizer – this may be the example piece for Djabe’s indicated course line of the past years, with an added Steve Hackett solo.
Klang is the latest instrument amongst Attila’s discoveries, and blossomed into the Klang Song, one of the most layered and clean, real contemporary pieces. Then there is Tomi’s Come Here, an example for a bass player gone berserk, a piece for dancing and partying. I can really envision listening to this Floyd-like overture.
There are some de facto masterpieces among the Transitions, too. The 1st is statically teems with sounds, Sára Kovács (daughter of Feri) says hello on didgeridoo while his father plays the trumpet like Miles Davies in In A Silent Way and Zoli Kovács improvises almost avantgarde roulades, and even the electronic guitar makes an appearance from the background. The 2nd has Malik as the hero, his garlands of tar are only chaperoned by Sára’s flute. The 3rd once again features the Azeri tar, answering to the violin. The 4th is my favorite, possibly because Malik’s tar, Attila’s acoustic guitar and Feri’s violin play reminds me of the atmosphere of Page-Plant duo’s Moroccan adventure. With its mysterious electronic guitar, the 5th could be an early example of prog rock but the Azeri tar spills over it. I always liked piano-wind duos, and this wish is granted by the 6th. Listening to the 7th we almost expect Sipi to interrupt – it’s so like Ly-O-Lay Ale Loya. Ever wondered what a Central European and Central Asian duo of grief sounds like? Just listen to the 8th with the sounds of violin and tar. The last one is a kind of summary for all the travels we did. Even the longest Transition is only 2 minutes long, with not one unnecessary note! The closing piece Out Of Dimensions, with Atti’s music and the narration of Hans Petersen (heard before in the overture) is a kind of Djabe Ars Poetica.

“If you look far enough and break down your boundaries
You’ll see new close-ups from many aspects.
These aspects are dimensions without limits you’ll have to try.
The twentieth dimension seems like a conclusion – but after twenty, twenty one is the next.”

“First we thought of a completely acoustic album but after that came the multitude of electronic elements. Tomi had the idea to do these pieces as dimensions of the past 20 years, new music spawn from them. So, we look forward. We wanted to give some kind of explanation for this shift, like with Update. I wrote the closing narration. Originally it was ment as an opening and was on top of one of my pieces composed for the album. Here, the music sounds just as I recorded the demo. But Tamás suggested this would rather be the closing. And to be honest, it sounds really good this way, it can be interpreted as a summary of our musical approach. In contrast, I wrote an opening that is much more scientific. This is how a complex frame for a complex album was born.” – Attila Égerházi.
The band leader also told that he wanted the Transitions to blend more into their respective pieces and it is possible that Djabe makes more adjustments for the LP release.
“There are no words for describing last night… I thought really hard how to do it when I went home… and finally found the expression doing justice… If someone, in some form, would shoot this new CD out to space maybe the aliens would reach for their musical instruments, too.” – by a member of the audience on the next day of the concert, posted on the band’s Facebook page.

Jozé also praised the album in his criticism on the pages of HammerWorld.

“20 years, 20 tracks. This is to summarize the new studio album by Hungary’s #1 World/Jazz/Prog fusion band, which is a kind of “return to the roots” and once again shows Djabe’s acoustic, atmospheric, meditative and fusion side, with a hint of modern electronica. The 20 tracks, or dimensions have a framed structure. at the beginning the concept of the album is drawn up, and the 20th piece is a philosophical summary of all the things heard and a guide for things that will be. The past 20 year is perfectly summarized by the armada of guest musicians, the featuring of past soundings, orchestrations and sound effects, the incorporation of archive recordings and other small bits and pieces. There are but only few this close to the otherwise unachievable musical perfectionism. The band of Attila Égerházi once again released a real masterpiece, one of the best albums beyond dispute. It is destined to become a yardstick, globally even. Suffice to say, the summer premiere tour reaches across the Atlantic. The pieces of this new album are linked by improvisations (not unlike Pink Floyd’s Endless River, here called Transitions 1-9) and expanded by archive or almost finished recordings made whole. The compositions of Barabás are, as accustomed to him, lively and sweepingly virtuoso, the ones co-composed with Égerházi are more akin to the original Djabe with a thought-provoking, serene, almost lyric style. The latter calls to my heart as once again (like their first album, one of my all-time favorites) with its calm, somewhat introverted mood sending me on a meditative travel inwards. Another “back to the roots” is the heavily featured acoustic guitar and the emphasis on the violin, compared to previous albums. All of today’s virtuoso Djabe members and the illustrious guest list (Steve Hackett, Malik Mansurov, John Nugent, Ben Castle, Tibor Mótyán, Sára Kovács, Hans Peterson) has its place and function. These multiple dimensions make up a whole. The band named after freedom once again made a statement on the side of artistic freedom, unbound by genre-specific limits and expectations. Not since the first album I felt a world of a Djabe CD so near, so familiar to myself. Listening to it again and again I feel te urge to reach for my guitar. Attila Égerházi and the band made a real synthesis of their last 20 years, with this opus. They came in full circle, returned to the source, to the roots of Djabe. Featuring a few (never performed) compositions from the first album along the material from the new one at the 20-year Anniversary Concert at MOM on April 1, 2016 is unique but not at all random, as said debut album’s re-release in 5.1 DVD-Audio is due. I eagerly await this new direction, the latest update, the 21st dimension. Be it a double LP/DVD-Audio edition, and the next era after completing this circle.”

Another criticism from Dusk.

“20 Dimensions feature 20 tracks of pleasant, catchy pieces born in elegant fusion, advanced by Tamás Barabás’ s fretless bass and the synergy of the virtuoso performance of his peers.” – said Mario Giammetti, and highlights Klang Song, its unique structure and shifts in accords implemented uniquely in Steve’s solo. And what of the 21st dimension? The planned unplugged? An even more detailed meeting of the roots and the 21st century? A synergy of arts maybe? In an interview in March 2016 Attila made some hints of a sequel to Seafs as a 15th anniversary of the original release. But let’s see, what wasn’t tried by the boys already? Their pieces incarnated as choreographies, clips, but no all-night dance suite, no feature film – these could tell us about the inseparability of the human intellect of the 5 continents, with just Djabe tunes…”