Borbély 70 at Jazzfest Budapest at Városháza Park

Few musicians in Hungary today are as versatile and influential as Mihály Borbély, who has been building bridges between jazz and folk music, improvisation and tradition for decades. He will turn 70 next year, and this milestone offers a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the richness of his art, the refinement of his playing, and his warm, human presence.

The jubilee concert will bring together the various eras and sonic worlds of Mihály Borbély’s career. Joining him on stage will be both long-time and recent collaborators, leading figures of the Hungarian jazz scene, each of whom has contributed to the unique musical universe Borbély has created over the years. The bass clarinet, the saxophone, the tárogató, and an entire arsenal of wind instruments will once again speak with sensitivity yet elemental power: at times pulsing with Balkan rhythms, at times unfolding in lyrical subtlety, and at times striking with tight, unmistakable jazz phrasing....

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Few musicians in Hungary today are as versatile and influential as Mihály Borbély, who has been building bridges between jazz and folk music, improvisation and tradition for decades. He will turn 70 next year, and this milestone offers a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the richness of his art, the refinement of his playing, and his warm, human presence.

The jubilee concert will bring together the various eras and sonic worlds of Mihály Borbély’s career. Joining him on stage will be both long-time and recent collaborators, leading figures of the Hungarian jazz scene, each of whom has contributed to the unique musical universe Borbély has created over the years. The bass clarinet, the saxophone, the tárogató, and an entire arsenal of wind instruments will once again speak with sensitivity yet elemental power: at times pulsing with Balkan rhythms, at times unfolding in lyrical subtlety, and at times striking with tight, unmistakable jazz phrasing.

The evening will be more than just a concert, it will be a fitting tribute to a creator whose artistry has inspired generations, and who remains as fresh, curious, and open to renewal as ever.

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