TV Gets In The Act

At long last Hungarian Television is showing an interest in jazz by presenting a series of programs produced by Tamás Deák, a jazz musician and big band leader. The TV will be broadeasting the highlights of four so-called jazz-club meetings, in Budapest concert halls which together should provide a broad picture of the country’s jazz life. Among the invited musicians are Béla Szakcsi Lakatos, György Szabados, Aladár Pege and Károly Binder. There are also plans for a super jam session and a traditional jazz parade. Deák hopes that the series will enliven the country’s jazz scene by attracting wider public attention for the music.

The newest generation of Hungarian jazz musicians received their diplomas this spring from the Jazz Department of the Béla Bartók Conservatory headed by János Gonda and displayed their talents on a tour of jazz clubs around the country. The students’ big band and small combos were introduced to audiences in Debrecen, Székesfehérvár, Pécs and Szeged. For the young musicians the tour was a good opportunity to practice and gain confidence.

(Jazz Forum, 1984/2)