Esoteric (label)
28 February 2025 (released)
2 d
Djabe are a Hungarian Jazz/World fusion band and over the last 30 years have won awards and plaudits around the world. Steve Hackett is obviously known for his time with Genesis, his solo career and his reworkings of original Genesis pieces. This is the second collaboration between them, the first being ‘The Sardinia Tapes’.
In January last year Djabe and Hackett took part in the Bodo Jazz Open festival in Norway, way above the Arctic Circle, They played one gig at Svömmehallen Scene and Djabe played another at Dama Di next day. They also recorded a new studio album during their Arctic stay.
The music is based on their surroundings, and was born through a series of jam sessions in the studio. Djabe guitarist Attila Égerházi declares; “The whole stay and the music recorded was extraordinary and magical.”
There is an otherworldly feel to the music. Tamas Barabas, Djabe’s bass play & chief composer and arranger, lays down very strong and fluid bass lines that the music hangs around. Hacketts guitar lines are perfectly suited to the music, weaving around the bass and drums (Peter Kaszas – Al DiMeola, Gonzalo Rubalcalpa) and creating images with real size and scope. Trumpet player Aron Koos-Hatas adds a cool and faintly discordant note to the music. Attila Égerházi is a founder member of Djabe and his guitar playing, in a pure Jazz style, is a perfect counterpoint to Hackett’s Prog lines.
The music feels very much like musicians working with and for each other. As with the best jam-based composition there is room for individuals to express themselves and for the band to work at giving a foundation. As different characters step forward, they are making their own perception of their surroundings merge with those of their colleagues and the result is quite special.
Every track on here has the feel of a band unrestrained. The musical images suit their surroundings and the listener is gifted those images.
A fabulous album.
