Hunagarian Jazz Progressive Rock band Djabe published the track “Mist” taken from their new double album “Before” out on December 09, 2022 via GR1993 Records. Stream the track through the YouTube player below:
Recommended by László Bese, writer:
“Before“, the first album to be released in double CD format, contains fifteen new recordings, all of them previously unreleased. Although the beautiful photos on the four-panel digi sleeve packaging once again praise the beauty of Sardinia, this time the recordings were made in Hungary, Denmark and England.
On the double album you can hear the current line-up of Djabe as the main band, namely. Steve Hackett on guitar, accordion; Rob Townsend on saxophone; Tibor Karvaly on violin; Éva Kozma on cobalt and a newcomer to Djabe, György Mesics on violin.
As usual, the colourful orchestration will once again play a set of songs that is perhaps even more colourful than ever before, with a sound quality that is considered to be top class on a global level. The instrumental qualities of the virtuosos, the extra colours and moods added by the guests, and the Progressive song structures of the composers’ compositions, this time based on a variety of stylistic elements, are all very well brought to bear.
As on the album “The Magic Stag” two years ago, the vocal performance of Péter Kaszás is once again overwhelming. Such a professional vocal performance, with absolute reason and moderation, adapted to the needs of the given composition, is almost exclusively to be heard on American soul, superpop and westcoast albums of the previous century. Peti doesn’t push anything too far, doesn’t bend without thinking, doesn’t scream at the top of his lungs, doesn’t try to show how cool he is. On the other hand, what he sings is exemplary, and could be immediately integrated into the curriculum of any professional music school in the world. Personally, the title track is the winner for me, but it’s perfectly understandable if others’ favourite is “Stars And Moonbeams” with lyrics by Jo Hackett.
I’ve been thinking a lot about what else I can write about Djabe‘s music after such a lifetime of work, and what else I can highlight from the new bunch of songs. But after a week and a half of digging around, I came to the conclusion that the compositions on “Before” continue to deliver the usual high standard, while still ignoring genre boundaries and freely adventuring between eras and genres.
On a Djabe level, Tamás’ composition “Started Here” is a novelty, exuding an unusual mood of heaviness, with an almost dark effect. Another interesting new track is “Mist,” featuring Steve Hackett on harmonica, evoking the fun, free-spirited, jamming moments of the encores of recent tours. After his first two daughters Alma and Kitti, Tamás has also captured newborn Franciska on the new album. God bless the youngest Djabe baby and her family!
The double CD edition of “Before” also sounds very good, and is a nice collector’s item. But of course, the real hi-fi and high-end celebration will come afterwards, with the release of DVD-audio, double vinyl, and core tape and master tape versions due in 2023. Viva audiophile quality! Viva Djabe!”
Purchase the album here: https://gr1993records.com/index.php/product/djabe-before-2cd/
Tracklist:
CD 1 (41:24)
- Before (4:40)
- Could Have Been (6:16)
- Stars And Moonbeams (6:52)
- Teen Days (6:16)
- Tale (5:32)
- Silent Travelers (6:08)
- Franciska (5:40)
CD 2 (42:58)
- Central European Time (5:20)
- Hurdy Minute (1:08)
- The Mysterious Tower (3:48)
- Walking On Hot Asphalt (5:10)
- Dawn (7:32)
- Started Here (7:00)
- Mist (6:46)
- After (6:14)
Lineup:
Tamás Barabás / bass guitar, guitar, synth programs, vocals
Attila Égerházi / guitar, percussion
Áron Koós-Hutás / trumpet, flugelhorn
Péter Kaszás / vocals, drums
Zoltán Bubenyák / keyboard instruments
With:
Steve Hackett (Genesis) / guitar, harmonica
Rob Townsend (Steve Hackett) / saxophone
Tibor Karvaly / electric violin
Éva Kozma / koboz
György Mesics / violin
