everything is on the one: Gabor Szabo "Dreams"

Monday, August 4, 2008

Gabor Szabo "Dreams"

OK, here's a quick post of one of my favorite Gabor Szabo records. This one was produced and played on by Gary McFarland for his short lived Syke label. It's hard for me to completely sum this album up because it seems to contain a certain sort of magic that goes beyonds the power of the pen. It was recorded in 1968 amongst a flurry of musical experimentation where many styles were beginning to cross pollinate each other and really blur the lines of conventional categorization. The best I can come up with is something like "psychedelic gypsy jazz". There was a nice article in "Wax Poetics" #13 that goes in depth over the specifics of the recording sessions. If the album really intrigues you, it might be worth hunting it down for the read.

buy the cd here
even better, the record here

boomp3.com

Your thoughts are always appreciated in the comments section.

Peace.............Dr. Fever

Oh, almost forgot. For all you Kenny Barron fans, Wara Katsu left a little treat for everyone in the comments section of "Lucifer". Give him a shout if you enjoy it much as I did!
Thank You!!!! Thank You!!!!

18 comments:

MFS Equipe ♪ said...: Thank Johnny for this great post!
Very dope & amazing!
Pier; August 4, 2008 at 6:58 PM
Anonymous said...: Enjoy!!

http://www.badongo.com/file/10707395

Sorry for the Badongo link but Media Fire has been very slow and full of errors as of late. I tried 3 times with no avail.; August 4, 2008 at 7:44 PM
E-mile said...: hi Johnny! this is a helluva RELAXED album!
thank you very much,
peace, E-mile; August 5, 2008 at 2:56 AM
AMM said...: hi dr johnny!
many thanks once again for a GREAT album!; August 6, 2008 at 12:46 PM
johnv said...: Thanks Doc--I was listening to "1969" and "Bacchanal" the other day and this one is in a similar vein.; August 8, 2008 at 7:28 PM
Anonymous said...: thanks a lot, doctor!; August 9, 2008 at 2:44 AM
Jazz-Nekko said...: Doctor Fever:

Just in case you wanted to know. . .this album cover was a personal favour by the famous, but reclusive Hungarian graphic artist/painter Szász Endre (07 January, 1926 - 18 August, 2003).

He and Szabor were from the same rural area and due to their anti-communist stances and being artists, the became friends. Szász' work is quite hard to come by outside of Hungary. I lived and worked in Hungary for several years from 1999-2004, so I know this work - it is unmistakeable! I met him in 2002, shortly before his death, at an embassy dinner affair. I could later arrange to to buy three serving platters and two prints from him. He was such a gentile person who did not begrudge his lack of fame due to the oppression he lived under. He was a good friend of Rubik (yes, that Rubik - another genius who died in poverty because the Socialists refused to give him any profits earned from his cube).

I have written elsewhere about my fortune to be invited to Szabor's weekend cabin/guest house. In that time, being a foreigner with a fairly high-profile manager position with a foreign company often brought unusual opportunities; I know it was not fair perhaps to the locals. Unforgettable experience I had drinking too much 'Bull's Blood' and eatng far too much unhealthy, greasy 'Zsiros Kenyer' (Lard Bread) whilst listening to Gabor playing until the sun rose. . .

Excellent album from a true gentleman,

Cheers,

JN

More information in English about Szász Endre:
http://www.artportal.hu/international/english/szasz_endre; August 10, 2008 at 8:15 AM
Dr. Johnny Fever said...: Hey JN, thanks for that great little bit of information. Hanging out with Gabor, how cool is that? Cheers to "Bull's Blood" and lard bread in the company of one a true treasures of the jazz world.

Also, one of the things that 1st drew me to that particular Szabo album was its stunning cover. I have a display wall in my house where I rotate with some frequency different framed record covers. The "Dreams" album graced a spot for just over a year.

Thanks for piquing my interest in an artist who I may have otherwise overlooked. I studied art history in college and I know for every one artist covered there are literally thousand that go unmentioned.

Your comments are greatly appreciated. I love it when someone shares a personal connection with the music I post.

Peace

-DJF; August 10, 2008 at 4:01 PM
Kevin said...: This is my first visit here, but it defintiely won't be my last. Psychedelic gypsy jazz is right up my alley.

Thanks, Kevin

http://eclectic-grooves.blogspot.com; August 28, 2008 at 4:18 PM
Kevin said...: At first, I wasn't hearing the psychedelic gypsy jazz on this one, but then the 4th track "The Fortune Teller" proves that description to be 100% accurate. "Fire Dance" is pretty dope as well. I love the bassline along with the frenetic guitar playing plus the horns toward the end seal the deal.

Thanks for introducing me to a great artist and a great album.

Best, Kevin; September 2, 2008 at 12:48 AM
Synopsis said...: interesting cover, looks promising, thanks; September 3, 2008 at 7:56 PM
tswift98 said...: Man, what a great album!! Thank you!; September 6, 2008 at 5:18 PM
silversee said...: Really interesting album!!

Cheers; September 15, 2008 at 1:13 AM
Jazzsoulman said...: Thank you for a great share of a great piece of music.; October 8, 2008 at 12:48 PM
Clark said...: Wow- this album is powerful. Thanks so much- I'm so glad to have discovered it!; October 24, 2008 at 9:17 PM
thoth said...: i always thought the skye label as a whole was kind of a disappointment. i dunno. maybe that is just me any szabo is welcome though and thank you for sharing.; January 19, 2009 at 3:28 PM
Anonymous said...: Galatea's Guitar is probably my favorite Szabo track ever. Been looking for this for some time. Big thanks!; January 27, 2009 at 6:30 PM
Anonymous said...: thanks...great record; March 27, 2009 at 4:23 AM

Monday, August 4, 2008

Gabor Szabo "Dreams"

18 comments:

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