Bartók Electrified Párniczky Quartet feat. Frank Möbus és Daniel Erdmann / CAFe Budapest 2016

“What do I think of jazz? It’s a smart form whose melodies comprise smart elements and rhythms. Jazz has a modern structure, and it is very valuable,” said Béla Bartók in an interview. The composer, in other words, maintained an open mind towards not only folk music, but towards jazz, improvisational music as well. He himself was interested in improvisation, and he composed a chamber piece, Contrasts, for Benny Goodman, the greatest jazz clarinet player of the period.

With the arrangements of Bartók’s works (such as Mikrokosmos, 10 Easy Pieces, and excerpts from Contrasts), András Párniczky has created a repertoire that is as complex as it is rich in emotions. Bartók’s musical world appears in a way that allows the band’s powerful, distinctive sound to remain identifiable.

The quartet is now joined by two leading European jazz musicians, guitarist Frank Möbus (Carlos Bica’s Azul, Der Rote Bereich), and the German Record Critics’ Award winning saxophonist, Daniel Erdmann. They are not only outstanding soloists, but also fit naturally in Párniczky’s unique concept.