SZILÁRD MEZEI SEPTET - 100 tű hossza
1. Hetedik / Seventh 9:07
2. Elveszett vízpart / Lost Water-coast 13:49
3. Jaguarundi 14:47
4. 100 tű hossza / Length of 100 Needles 11:46
5. Metal Cat 10:51
6. Szakadó szakadó 10:17
7. Tücsökzene, felkérés / Cricket Music, request + Uncia 5:39
Compositions by Szilárd Mezei (SOKOJ)
Szilárd MEZEI – viola
Bogdan RANKOVIĆ – alto sax, bass clarinet
Branislav AKSIN – trombone
Albert MÁRKOS – violoncello
Kornél PÁPISTA – tuba
Ervin MALINA – double bass
István CSÍK - drums
Rec. 21. June 2010., LOFT, Köln, Germany, by Christian Heck.
Mixed and mastered by Szilárd Mezei.
©Mezei Szilárd (SOKOJ)
Special thanks to Zoltán Bicskei, Kanizsa Circle and Hans-Martin Müller.
Rarely will you find musicians that soundgrave— even in the midst of heated improvisation — in the same way as Szilárd Mezei and cohorts do. One greets the Septet as a group of consummate instrumentalists — able to flick all the switches between free jazz, reworking of folk materials and chamber arrangement — who never give a smile the chance of lighting up their faces. Such are the solemnity and total lack of unserviceable divertissement defining the 76 minutes of100 Tű Hossza(translatable from Hungarian as "Length Of 100 Needles"). The suite was recorded at Cologne's Loft in 2010 and is entirely permeated by a rigorous intensity that might be hard to translate on the basis of an absentminded approach. That strenuousness represents the proof of a spiritual/cerebral engagement seldom observable in comparable settings.
A key attribute of this work is sheltered in the leader's willingness to allot "solo areas" to each member, all of them brilliantly keeping away from commonplaces that could have caused a drop-off in curiosity. Cellist Albert Márkos opens "Elveszett Vizpart" with an impressive blending of hearty intuition and atonality, whereas tubist Kornél Pápista's interventions head off the effortless routes of cartoon-ish humor (often associated with his instrument) to place the kernel of the phrasing halfway through purposeful timbral globosity and babbling unevenness of the "right" type. Particular credit must be granted to the excellent selection of counter-patterns, accent shifts and resilient tenseness by István Csík, a drummer bracketing bouncy propulsion and commendable accuracy without apparent effort.
As always noticeable in his scores, Mezei — whose solitary materializations on the viola comprise symbols of a special natural ability — is well aware of the value of dynamic change, knowledgeably establishing points of (relative) relief when required. The band seems to calm down on cue during brief snippets of the title track, only to leave Bogdan Ranković's reeds rekindle the fire with fiercely classy explorations of the "disruptive stream". When they regroup after the soliloquies, or launch a new exercise in difficult-to-memorize themes ("Metal Cat" is quite toothsome and even enticing in that sense, while the emotionally affecting "Szakadó Szakadó" gathers Dedication Orchestra scents and Eastern flavors), the little man from Vojvodina emerges once again as one of the genuinely great voices of the European scene.
Massimo Ricci The Squid's Ear, http://www.squidsear.com/a.cgi?a=1549
SZILARD MEZEI SEPTET - 100 Tu Hossza (Slam 536; UK) Szilard Mezei on
viola & compositions, Bogdan Rankovic on alto sax & bass clarinet,
Branislav Aksin on trombone, Albert Markos on cello, Kornel Papista
on tuba, Ervin Malina on double bass and Istvan Csik on drums.
Hungarian violist Szilard Mezei continues to release discs on a half
dozen different labels with varied sized bands, from solo to octet,
with both improvised and written music being involved. Although Mr.
Mezei is a gifted musician, it is his composing that consistently
knocks me out. For this disc Szilard has put together an excellent
septet of his regular collaborators. Recorded at the Loft in Koln,
the sound is superb. "Seventh" is taken at a nervous, fast-paced
tempo with some intricate lines played tightly together and exciting
solos from the alto sax, trombone, viola and tuba. Although "Lost
Water-Coast" features the cellist, it is layered harmonies for the
rest of the band that makes this so compelling. You can tell that
Mezei put a good deal of time into composing and arranging this
material since the more I listen, the more complex ideas I hear
between the soloists and the rest of the ensemble, together and
apart. Certain sections are stripped down to give the players a
chance to breathe between the more challenging written parts but
everything here has a sense of purpose. This music is somewhere in
between modern classical and avant jazz, yet it works on a variety of
levels. Like everything else from Szilard Mezei, this is another
buried treasure well worth seeking out. - Bruce Lee Gallanter,
Downtown Music Gallery
Szilard Mezei Septet – "100 tu hossza" – Slam 536
Szilard Mezei, specialista della viola, ha inciso il 21 giugno del 2010 a Colonia un nuovo album sempre per la Slam dopo "Tőnk/Stump" in ottetto e "Tisza" in trio; questa volta l'organico scelto č un settetto e cosě il musicista ungherese č accompagnato da Bogdan Rankoviać alto sax, clarinetto basso, Branislav Aksintrombone, Albert Markos violoncello, Kornél Papista tuba, Ervin Malina double bass, István Csiks batteria… quindi un melange di fiati e corde piů sezione ritmica che produce un sound affatto particolare. Il repertorio č ancora una volta costituito da composizioni dello stesso leader e quindi ancora una volta largo spazio viene lasciato all'improvvisazione. Ciň detto sembrerebbe che anche quest'ultima produzione di Mezei sia assimilabile in tutto e per tutto ai precedenti album. Viceversa "100 tu hossza" presenta qualche rilevantenovitŕ. L'artista sembra aver abbandonato la strada del free piů caotico a favore di una musica in cui, pensate un po', a tratti si ascolta anche delloswinge l'atmosfera generale č piů gioiosa del solito. Cosě, nel brano d'apertura, ad un certo punto sembra quasi di ascoltare un sound bandistico prima che Rankovic si lanci in un assolo dal sapore tipicamente "free storico" subito dopo emulato da Aksin; dall'andamento piů largo e caratterizzato anche da una certa ricerca melodica il secondo brano, "Lost water-coast"; di sapore intensamente meditativo anche "Jaguarundi" con un bell'assolo del trombonista Aksin e con Mezei che si ritaglia sempre spazi adeguati per i suoi interventi solistici mentre Istvan Csik alla batteria si dimostra non solo accompagnatore solido e preciso ma solista di gran gusto ed eleganza; addirittura swingante "Lenght of 100 Needles" … e via di questo passo fino alla conclusione dell'album con "Szakado' szakado" dal chiaro sapore folk e il brillante "Cricket music…" in un alternarsi di atmosfere che rende l'album stesso particolarmente interessante. E' opportuno notare come tutte le esecuzioni siano caratterizzate da una certa logica, da un disegno preciso… in poche parole da una sorta di arrangiamento che mal si concilia con il free storico. Gerlando Gatto, http://www.online-jazz.net/wp/2012/05/02/i-nostri-cd-54/?page=2
TRANSLATION
Szilard Mezei, a specialist of viola, he recorded 21 June 2010 in Cologne a new album again for the Slam after "Tonk / Stump" in octet "Tisza" in trio; this time the staff has chosen a septet, and so the Hungarian musician is accompanied by Bogdan Rankoviać alto sax, bass clarinet, Branislav Aksin trombone, cello, Albert Markos, Kornél Papist tuba, double bass Ervin Malina, István Csiks battery... then a melange of woodwinds and strings as the rhythm section that produces a particular sound at all.The repertoire is again made up of compositions of the same leaders and then again a lot of space is left for improvisation.That said it seems that production of Mezei is similar in all respects to the previous album.Conversely, "100 tu hossza" has some important news.The artist seems to have abandoned the way of free more chaotic in favor of a music in which, just think, 'sometimes you even hear the swing and the general atmosphere is more joyful than usual.Thus, in the opening track, at one point almost seems to hear a band sound Rankovic before you launch into a solo from the typical "free town" soon emulated by Aksin; But from the larger and well characterized by a Some research melodic second track, "Lost water-coast" flavor also intensely meditative "Jaguarundi" a trombonist of bell'assolo Aksin Mezei and that adequate space is always cut out for his own solo while Istvan Csik the drummer demonstrates not only precise, but firm and solo accompanist of great taste and elegance, even swinging "Length of 100 Needles" ... and so on until the end of the album with "Szakado 'szakado" folk flavour from light and bright "Cricket music ... "in a succession of moods that makes the album itself is particularly interesting.It's worth noting that all executions are characterized by a certain logic, a specific plan in a nutshell ... a sort of arrangement which is incompatible with the free town.(GG)
Vittorio Lo Conte http://www.musiczoom.it/?p=7068
Original Italian:
LaSlam Productions ed il violista serbo – ma appartiene alla minoranza unghereseSzilard Mezeicollaborano ancora dopo il recente trio diTisza. La nuova pubblicazione č un live al Loft di Colonia, storico locale della cittŕ tedesca, con il settetto intorno ai fidiErvin MalinaeIstván Csíkrispettivamente al contrabbasso ed alla batteria eBogdan Rancovical sax alto e clarinetto basso,Branislav Aksinal trombone,Albert Márkosal violoncello eKornél Pápistaalla tuba. La musica parte con un intreccio di corde insieme alla tuba per poi entrare in una sezione in cui si annuncia il tema in collettivo seguito dal vibrante assolo del sax alto. Il richiamo agli ensemble storici di Coltrane o Shepp č solo tangenziale: qui si preferiscono sizuazioni piů strutturate ed un volto piů europeo, pur lasciando ai solisti spazi piuttosto ampi. Il leader si fa aspettare ed arriva dopo sei minuti suHetedik / Seventhcon un assolo devastante mostrando che la sua musica ha le radici al di qua ed al di lŕ dell´Atlantico. I suoi affreschi sono piuttosto ambiziosi, strutturati con sapienza compositiva ispirata pure dal foklore della sua comunitŕ. In questa sapiente arte di prendere da mondi cosě diversi e dare un´impronta personale alla musica sta la genialitŕ del violista serbo-ungherese. Un brano comeElveszett vízpart / Lost Water-Coastnon lo si dimentica facilmente per l´intreccio sapiente degli archi e della batteria dell´inizio, poi il resto č semplicemente da antologia, compreso l´assolo di clarinetto basso. Il gioco di squadra č perfetto ed intorno ai collettivi si svolgono assoli travolgenti dei protagonisti. Una musica dall´alto contenuto tecnico eseguita da musicisti che meritano la notorietŕ internazionale. Fra i brani migliori anche100 tű hossza / Length of 100 Needlesche dŕ il titolo al disco. Ovunque, perň č possibile trovare momenti di bellezza unica, frutto di una sapiente gestione dei diversi generi e delle possibilitŕ sonore del settetto, messi insieme in modo naturale, senza che si avvertano fratture evidenti.
Translation:
TheSlam Productionsand the violist of Serbia - but belongs to the Hungarian minoritySzilard Mezeiwork together again after the recent trio ofTisza.The new publication is a live at the Loft in Cologne, local historian of the German city, with the septet around trustErvin MalinaandIstván Csikbass and drums respectively andBogdan Rancovicon alto saxophone and bass clarinet,Branislav AksintrombonistAlbert Markoson cello andKornél Papiston the tuba.The music starts with a tangle of ropes along the fallopian tube and then enter a section that announces the theme followed by a collective of vibrant solo alto saxophone.The reminder of the historical ensemble of Coltrane and Shepp is only tangential: Here you prefer a face sizuazioni more structured and more European, while leaving the soloists rather large spaces.The leader is expected and comes after six minutes ofHetedik / Seventhsolo with a devastating showing that his music has roots on both sides and across the Atlantic.Its frescoes are quite ambitious, well structured with compositional skill inspired by foklore of his community.In this masterful art of taking from such different worlds and give a personal touch to the music is the genius of the Serbian-Hungarian violist.A song likeElveszett vízpart / Lost Coast-Waterdoes not easily forget the skillful interweaving of the arches and the beginning of the battery, then the rest is simply anthology, including the solo bass clarinet.Team play is perfect, and around the collective will of the protagonists play solos overwhelming.Music performed by musicians from the technical content that merit international acclaim.Among the best songs alsoyou hossza 100/100 Length of Needlesthat gives the title track.Everywhere, however, you can find moments of unique beauty, the result of wise management of different genres and sonic possibilities of the septet, put together in a natural way, without any obvious fractures warn. Vittorio Lo Conte http://www.musiczoom.it/?p=7068
Del violino e della viola, č ormai da diversi anni un campione consolidato il magiaro Szilŕrd Mezei, che in Italia conoscono fin troppo in pochi, e che peraltro nessuno - salvo errori od omissioni - ha mai sentito (dal vivo, intendiamo). Il suo ultimo CD,100 Tü Hossza, edito dall'inglese Slam che ha messo in simultanea sul mercato altri tre ottimi lavori, a cominciare daRaahe '99, con (e dedicato all'indimenticato) Paul Rutherford, non fa che confermare come ci troviamo di fronte a uno dei nomi piů interessanti emersi in tempi abbastanza recenti (non solo limitatamente a violino e viola, si capisce). Ne č protagonista un settetto con archi e ottoni a profusione, per una musica giocata nel segno di un camerismo nervoso e frammentato quanto elegante, a tratti solenne, di gusto spesso squisitamente contemporaneo (in senso ovviamente lato).
Alberto Bazzurro http://italia.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=7936
Violin and viola, is a champion for several years now consolidated the Magyar Szilard Mezei, in Italy know all too few, and that no one, however - unless errors or omissions - has ever heard (live, we mean).His latest CD,You Hossza 100, which put Slam English published simultaneously on the market three other excellent works, beginning with'99 Raahe, with (the unforgettable and dedicated) Paul Rutherford, only confirms how are faced with one of the most interesting names emerged in recent times (not just limited to violin and viola, you understand).It is leading a septet with strings and brass in abundance, for music played chamber music in the sign of a nervous and fragmented as it is elegant, sometimes solemn, often distinctly contemporary flavor (in a hand of course).
SZILÁRD MEZEI SEPTET/ 100 tü hossza (SLAM Productions)
L'altiste Szilárd Mezei propose un nouveau disque chez SLAM Productions, un nouveau sous-groupe de son grand ensemble, enregistré au Loft de Cologne en juin 2010. L'ensemble propose un mélange de cuivres et de cordes, incluant tuba et contrebasse, plus batterie. Des compositions fouillées comme ŕ l'habitude, avec un peu plus de jazz qu'ŕ l'habitude, plus de moments qui swingent et qui jovialisent. Mais le pathos n'est jamais loin et l'improvisation libre occupe encore une place importante dans ces longues pičces (presque toutes dans les 10 minutes et plus). Une proposition solide.
Violist Szilárd Mezei is back with a new record on SLAM Productions recorded at the Loft in Köln, June 2010, and featuring yet another sub-grouping of his large ensemble. This line-up features brass and string instruments, including tuba AND doublebass, plus a drummer. Sophisticated compositions as usual, with a bit more jazz infused in them – more swinging and cheery moments than usual. However, pathos is never far away, and free improvisation still holds a key part in these long pieces (almost all in the 10+minute range). A strong proposition.
François Couture http://blog.monsieurdelire.com/2012/04/2012-04-16-4tet-different-song-szilard.html