Jazz Articles about Tibor Szemzo

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Tibor Szemzo: Danube Exodus

by Glenn Astarita
March 10, 2003

Hungarian composer Tibor Szemzo’s latest tome set to music is based on the soundtrack for the film Danube Exodus by Peter Forgacs. The music depicts the 1939 exodus of Jews from Bratislava, hiring two steamboats with the intentions of escaping Slovak and Nazi rule. Hence, the composer’s minimalist concepts shine forth here amid an electro-acoustic set featuring strings, horns and a rhythm section. Szemzo conveys moods of various colors throughout these hauntingly melodic pieces, spanning world music, contemporary classical and ...

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Tibor Szemzo: The Other Shore

by Robert Spencer
December 1, 1999

This astounding disc is difficult to classify. It contains one piece of Buddhist chant, backed by a medium-sized string and percussion ensemble (plus leader Tibor Szemzo's bass flute). This chant has an otherworldly beauty, ably underscored (i.e., not interfered with) by the instrumentalists. At rhythmic points the musicians come to the fore (as the chant continues), punctuating the chant and introducing a counterpoint with the chant's natural rhythm.

Then the second piece is a conversation among Gypsies in Hungary, translated ...

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Tibor Szemzo: Snapshot from the Island

by Robert Spencer
December 1, 1999

Tibor Szemzo is a minimalist who specializes here in “Snapshot from the Island" in the small sounds of serenity and peace. The music seems to be credited to flute and synthesizer, but it often sounds almost vocal, in an ethereal, ancient, Gregorian Chant fashion. There is a good deal of sustaining of notes, reverb, echo, gradual building and dying away of volume. This track ever so gradually builds in momentum, and the flute becomes clearer, whirling and whirling in space ...

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Tibor Szemzo': Snapshot From The Island

by Glenn Astarita
November 1, 1999

Hungarian “minimalist” instrumentalist/composer Tibor Szemzo is considered a genius by many although; his accomplishments as an artist are sometimes overshadowed by the likes of superstars, Steve Reich and Philip Glass. Snapshot From The Island was originally released by Leo Records in 1987 and thankfully, Leo has decided to reissue this gem on CD, which coincides with a brand new release titled, The Other Shore (see upcoming AAJ Dec ‘99 reviews) featuring compositions spanning 1992-1997. Snapshot From The Island is a ...