Ferenc Snetberger

Born in 1957 in northern Hungary, guitarist/composer Ferenc Snétberger was the youngest son of a family of musicians. Early on his father, a guitar player also, became his role model. Snétberger studied classical music and jazz guitar. Today he is best known for his art of improvising and his crossing of stylistic borders. His music is inspired by the Roma tradition of his home country, Brazilian music and flamenco as well as classical guitar playing and jazz. He made numerous albums as a leader, co- leader and sideman and has toured all over Europe as well as Japan, Korea, India and the United States. In 1995 he composed his Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra, "In Memory of My People", on the occasion the fiftieth year following the end of the holocaust. Inspired by melodies of the gypsy tradition, the concerto is a powerful statement against human suffering. It has been performed by the composer himself with chamber orchestras in Hungary, Italy and Germany and also at the New York UN headquarters (International Holocaust Memorial Day, 2007). Ferenc Snétberger performed Luciano Berios Sequenza XI (for solo guitar) as well as concertos with orchestra by Vivaldi, Rodrigo, and John McLaughlin. He also wrote music for film and theater. In 2002 Snétberger was appointed freeman of his birth town and two years later received the Hungarian Order of Merit. In 2005 he was awarded the Liszt Ferenc Prize in Budapest, 2013 the Prima Díj, 2014 the Kossuth Díj. In 2004 Snétberger founded his new trio with legendary Norwegian bass player Arild Andersen and Norway-based Italian drummer/percussionist Paolo Vinaccia. With natural ease and on the highest level the three of them bring together choice compositions, technical skills, improvisational drive and musical fantasy. Released in fall 2005, their debut album "Nomad" was greeted with enthusiasm by critics and listeners. Snétbergers cooperation with Markus Stockhausen started in 1999 with "Landscapes", a duo suite recorded for Snétbergers album "For My People". In three movements the musicians immediately create a language of their own showing their talents in an amazing way. "They come along lightly and yet filled with melancholy - and they give the impression that one day they simply had to meet in order to make this music happen. You cant help but hope this cooperation will be continued soon," Ralf v.d. Kellen wrote in Intro magazine. Eight years later during which Snétberger and Stockhausen have further been stimulating each other artistically, their duo album "Streams" finally proves their development.

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Album Review

Nomad by John Kelman
Nomad by Eyal Hareuveni
In Concert by Mark Sullivan
In Concert by Mario Calvitti
TITOK by Mark Sullivan
Titok by Mario Calvitti

UK and US reviewers on the trio album Titok Titok is the latest offering from ECM. And it is remarkable in the wholeness of ist realization. ... He wrote all 13 songs here, and they reflect diverse influences: Roma music („Alom“); Europaen classical („Renaissance“); Latin („Orange Tango“); jazz (most of the rest). But these cultural references are almost incidental to Snétberger´s encompassing aestethic. Titok is warm, elegant music, unassuming inits romaticism, firm in ist substance, organic in ist natural, unhurried flow. In seperable from allue of this album is ECM´s excellent recorded sound. The sonic glow of Snétberger´s acoustic nylon-string guitar is as sensual as a caress. Five of the 13 pieces are in-studio improvisations. They sound almost a jewel-like and complete as longstanding Snétberger compositions like „Kék Kerék“ wich is a quietly dramatic unfolding of inevitable melody. The rythm section here assures that Snétberger´s light touch will be applied in a context of intesity. Bassist Anders Jormin and drummer Joey Baron have appeared on many ECM recordings but never together.. baron´s brushes are like flickering fire. Jormin is a special atmospheric recource, offering haunting pizzicato on „Álom“, lingering arco on „Leolo“ and resonat blends with Snétberger´s guitar throughout. Thomas Conrad, Jazztimes Magazin October 2017 What really impresses is the lovely balance struck between, on the one hand, the natural empathy between the leader and his fellow trio members, double bassist, Anders Jormin, and drummer Joey Baron, and, on the other, the ever melodic spontaneous conversations that the trio enter into. […] Quietly, this album gently gets under the skin and slowly, but surely, occupies the soul. There is nothing overtly flashy about Ferenc Snétberger’s style of playing. Just an overriding feeling of deep musicality. Tim Stenhouse, UK Vibe

All the music is written by Snétberger and all 13 tracks are fairly concise. Some, like the delightfully melodic ‘Kék Kerék’, sound like folk songs, others have a chamber-jazz feel with the leader’s instrument inevitably reminding of the classical guitar repertoire, and some even sound like standards. Snétberger has a precise touch, flowing improvisational mind, and imparts each piece with a generous heart, a grace fully embraced by his sensitive fellows. Peter Bacon, London Jazz News Featuring Swedish bassist Anders Jormin and American drummer Joey Baron, the recording has a subtle balance of melodic improvisation and interaction between guitar, bass and drums. The cumulative effect is sensational with Snétberger’s classical training and his love of Latin American music permeating throughout. […] This is a recording that will delight fans not only of jazz guitar, but those who like their jazz elegant, sensitive and melodic. Ian Lomax, Jazz Journal ‘Titok’ represents absolutely ego free playing at its highest level. The trio is adept at functioning in different roles seamlessly, as an example Snétberger is equally at home leading a melodic line or improvising out front as he is circling and enhancing the rhythmic activity of Jormin and Baron. […] ‘Titok’ is another engaging look at Ferenc Snétberger’s singing acoustic guitar tone, and substantial improvisational ideas. As noted in the review of ‘In Concert’, Snétberger’s technique is indeed formidable but it never gets in the way of the music. He is on par with the Scofield, Metheny, McLaughlin, Frisell and DeLucia and is quite underrated. Very rarely are albums this good, and with a stellar trio and material, the album makes a strong case for being one of the year’s best. CJ Shearn, Jazz Views Ferenc Snetberger’s style is just as distinctive in this trio setting as it was solo: blending classical, jazz, Gypsy jazz, and Latin American musics, but melded together into a singular voice. Jormin and Baron are completely attuned—nylon-string guitar fans should take note. Mark Sullivan, All About Jazz Hungarian guitarist Ferenc Snétberger is fairly new to the ECM Records roster, making a huge impact with his solo debut ‘In Concert’ a few years ago, but is now back in a big way with a trio that also features drummer Joey Baron and double bassist Anders Jormin. Their debut together is titled ‘Titok’, which is comprised of 13 tracks of inspired arrangements and plenty of sizzling musical interplay between the three players. From the outset, Barons steady rhythms allow Snétberger & Jormin to weave some incredible melodies around each other […] As daring as some of these compositions are, theres a certain subtlety that is also quite refreshing, as none of the players goes too far out into charts unknown but still manage to dazzle nonetheless. […] ‘Titok’ is a lovely little album with a nice mix of more exploratory pieces as well as shorter, charming compositions. Lets hope we hear more from this dazzling trio in the years to come. Pete Pardo, Sea of Tranquility In Concert Solo Guitar | 2016 Guitarist Ferenc Snétberger’s new solo recording In Concert is reviewed on a US website ‘In Concert’ is the guitarist’s ECM debut, recorded in October 2013 live at the spacious Listz Academy, Grand Hall in Budapest and a staggering but absolutely melodic display of his capabilities […] Snetberger is masterful at blending improvisation and composition seamlessly, and integrating his wide array of influences into a borderless whole […] ‘In Concert’ is fantastic, and engaging for its entirety, the wonderful recording quality helps capture the spacious acoustic sound of the hall. Amazing sound pictures are created by the notes Snetberger plays, and it will be exciting to see where he goes next with his other groups. C. J. Shearn, Jazz Views UK review Snétberger really is the complete guitarist, with classical baroque, Brazilian, Flamenco, jazz, tango and free styles all secure under his fingertips. His tone is immaculate, the recording sound sublime and the sense of relaxation and freedom along with such lightly-worn virtuosity makes this a thoroughly absorbing and pleasure-filled hour of music. Peter Bacon, The Jazz Breakfast US review Here’s a gorgeous album by guitarist Ference Snetberger, who’s caught in a concert at Budapest’s Franz Liszt Academy of Music. He plays classical guitar here, and uses it in a variety of luscious moods. None of the titles are given a title, simply numbered as a “part” of a great whole. Rich classic sounds in “1”, rich Spanish fragrances in “3”, a dancing samba in “4” and hints of flamenco in “5” all include patience in his picking, strumming and touch. Wonderful spaciousness on the dreamy “8” , with the entire concert making you want to create your own impressionistic titles. A joy to the ears. George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly US review It’s easy to hear the influence of Jim Hall in Snétberger’s more straight-ahead jazz playing, and it’s tempting at times to compare him to former ECM guitarist Pat Metheny, another Hall acolyte. But Snétberger’s command of flamenco, Gypsy jazz, and other syles, his ability to stitch these together so seamlessly, and the deceptively effortless manner in which he plays make it clear that this is a singular talent. Greg Cahill, Acoustic Guitar

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