Laszlo Gardony

"Great pianist."
—Dave Brubeck

"...jazz is a very universal music and Laszlo is a great musician, and the truth is that this music goes beyond any kind of boundaries, cultures, or nationalities and good musicians meet on a common ground. We played together very well the first time and I always enjoy playing with Laszlo because he is a great musician and that's all you need."
—Dave Liebman

"From the first time I heard Laszlo I've been very impressed by his playing...He's one of the best musicians that we've ever had here at Berklee."
—Gary Burton

"The trio of pianist Laszlo Gardony, bassist John Lockwood, and drummer Yoron Israel is among the most seasoned, soulful, sensitive, and swinging groups around."
—Kevin Lowenthal, BOSTON GLOBE

"His genius is in making complex ideas simple — another kind of liberation "
—Jon Garelick, BOSTON PHOENIX

"Now in 'marrying odd meters/changing time signatures with the sound and the groove of gospel, funk, jazz and rock,' [Gardony] has made a jazz piano trio disc that part of you - guaranteed - is going to want to dance to. It might not be the ordinary danceworthy parts but that's how joyous and primordially infectious this disc is. Who'd ever have thought that Laszlo Gardony would turn out to be the ultra-hip 21st century Ramsey Lewis?"
—Jeff Simon, BUFFALO NEWS

“Gardony’s muse is unpretentious yet artistic by design … Sure enough, it’s an all-encompassing musical statement that beckons repeated listens. Don’t let this gem pass you by…”
—Glenn Astarita, EJAZZNEWS.COM

“No one has a better feeling for mixing strong grooves and melodic lyricism than pianist Laszlo Gardony.”
—Jon Garelick, BOSTON PHOENIX

“A piano man for these times, he marries the future with tradition and sprinkles his own flavor on the proceedings for a killer set that’s sure to impress. This is the place to stop for genre fans looking for something new to blow their ears wide open.”
— MIDWEST RECORD.COM

“The trio is always on the same page emotionally, mentally and physically through the musical paragraphs … Gardony incorporates music from different cultures in his compositions and the result is a splendid melting pot that displays harmonious expressions with gentle sonic compressors.”
— Susan Frances, JAZZREVIEW.COM

"Armed with a piano style that encompasses Bill Evans''s elegance, Herbie Hancock's drive and Keith Jarrett's passion, Gardony's music, like the title track he composed, creates a meditative state conducive to the attainment of man's most enduring and timeless aspirations."
—Eugene Holley Jr., VILLAGE VOICE / NEW YORK TIMES REVIEWER

Recommended by Village Voice Jazz Consumer Guide: A (Highest Rating)
—Francis Davis, VILLAGE VOICE

“A consistently inventive player who combines an ear for melody with a strong rhythmic sense that grabs the attention of even those who normally resistant to jazz.”
—Larry Katz, BOSTON HERALD

“(Gardony) strikes a nice balance between being genuinely expressive and readily accessible on Breakout. **** (four stars)”
—Bill Milkowski, DOWN BEAT

“Buoyant good fun...An aggressive improviser ready and willing to take chances.”
—Bob Young, JAZZIZ

“The vision in his versions indicates how far he has come in mastering jazz’s major challenge, the transformation of the tradition through personal expression.”
—Bob Blumenthal, BOSTON GLOBE

"Gardony serves notice that he has arrived – not only as an original voice who has fully integrated his disparate influences, but as a player who spans the conservatory and the gutbucket without a hint of strain".
—Kevin Convey, BOSTON HERALD

“A new champion...His keyboard touch is impeccable as displayed in this compelling set of original compositions. RECOMMENDED (The Secret)”
—Jeff Levenson, BILLBOARD

“A sparkling jazz trio date...he blends the diatonic lyricism of Keith Jarrett with the modal and polyrhythmic vitality of his native land.”
—KEYBOARD MAGAZINE

“Immensely gifted Hungarian-born pianist...a classicist with a darkly romantic streak...this music somehow insinuates itself into the listener’s psyche.”
—Gene Kalbacher, HOT HOUSE

“Combining in fresh, sweepingly powerful and gorgeously lyrical ways unlike any other current jazz pianist...Gardony is treasured...for his percussive density, tireless inventiveness and consistent excitement.”
—Jeff Simon, BUFFALO NEWS

“Bill Evans to the next level.”
—David Prince, THE NEW MEXICAN

"A superior jazz improviser who infuses his post-bop music with references to his Hungarian folk roots"
—Scott Yanow, ALL MUSIC GUIDE

“Gardony is not afraid to expand the vocabulary of his instrument...sure this is the blues, but it rarely feels this fine.”
—Richard B. Kamins, CADENCE

“His reach runs from Ellington through Monk and Coltrane, and his spins on the material are fascinating - including his hilariously dissonant, Beethovenesque reading of ‘Good King Wenceslas.”
—Gene Santoro, NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
 

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"Great pianist."
—Dave Brubeck

"...jazz is a very universal music and Laszlo is a great musician, and the truth is that this music goes beyond any kind of boundaries, cultures, or nationalities and good musicians meet on a common ground. We played together very well the first time and I always enjoy playing with Laszlo because he is a great musician and that's all you need."
—Dave Liebman

"From the first time I heard Laszlo I've been very impressed by his playing...He's one of the best musicians that we've ever had here at Berklee."
—Gary Burton

"The trio of pianist Laszlo Gardony, bassist John Lockwood, and drummer Yoron Israel is among the most seasoned, soulful, sensitive, and swinging groups around."
—Kevin Lowenthal, BOSTON GLOBE

"His genius is in making complex ideas simple — another kind of liberation "
—Jon Garelick, BOSTON PHOENIX

"Now in 'marrying odd meters/changing time signatures with the sound and the groove of gospel, funk, jazz and rock,' [Gardony] has made a jazz piano trio disc that part of you - guaranteed - is going to want to dance to. It might not be the ordinary danceworthy parts but that's how joyous and primordially infectious this disc is. Who'd ever have thought that Laszlo Gardony would turn out to be the ultra-hip 21st century Ramsey Lewis?"
—Jeff Simon, BUFFALO NEWS

“Gardony’s muse is unpretentious yet artistic by design … Sure enough, it’s an all-encompassing musical statement that beckons repeated listens. Don’t let this gem pass you by…”
—Glenn Astarita, EJAZZNEWS.COM

“No one has a better feeling for mixing strong grooves and melodic lyricism than pianist Laszlo Gardony.”
—Jon Garelick, BOSTON PHOENIX

“A piano man for these times, he marries the future with tradition and sprinkles his own flavor on the proceedings for a killer set that’s sure to impress. This is the place to stop for genre fans looking for something new to blow their ears wide open.”
— MIDWEST RECORD.COM

“The trio is always on the same page emotionally, mentally and physically through the musical paragraphs … Gardony incorporates music from different cultures in his compositions and the result is a splendid melting pot that displays harmonious expressions with gentle sonic compressors.”
— Susan Frances, JAZZREVIEW.COM

"Armed with a piano style that encompasses Bill Evans''s elegance, Herbie Hancock's drive and Keith Jarrett's passion, Gardony's music, like the title track he composed, creates a meditative state conducive to the attainment of man's most enduring and timeless aspirations."
—Eugene Holley Jr., VILLAGE VOICE / NEW YORK TIMES REVIEWER

Recommended by Village Voice Jazz Consumer Guide: A (Highest Rating)
—Francis Davis, VILLAGE VOICE

“A consistently inventive player who combines an ear for melody with a strong rhythmic sense that grabs the attention of even those who normally resistant to jazz.”
—Larry Katz, BOSTON HERALD

“(Gardony) strikes a nice balance between being genuinely expressive and readily accessible on Breakout. **** (four stars)”
—Bill Milkowski, DOWN BEAT

“Buoyant good fun...An aggressive improviser ready and willing to take chances.”
—Bob Young, JAZZIZ

“The vision in his versions indicates how far he has come in mastering jazz’s major challenge, the transformation of the tradition through personal expression.”
—Bob Blumenthal, BOSTON GLOBE

"Gardony serves notice that he has arrived – not only as an original voice who has fully integrated his disparate influences, but as a player who spans the conservatory and the gutbucket without a hint of strain".
—Kevin Convey, BOSTON HERALD

“A new champion...His keyboard touch is impeccable as displayed in this compelling set of original compositions. RECOMMENDED (The Secret)”
—Jeff Levenson, BILLBOARD

“A sparkling jazz trio date...he blends the diatonic lyricism of Keith Jarrett with the modal and polyrhythmic vitality of his native land.”
—KEYBOARD MAGAZINE

“Immensely gifted Hungarian-born pianist...a classicist with a darkly romantic streak...this music somehow insinuates itself into the listener’s psyche.”
—Gene Kalbacher, HOT HOUSE

“Combining in fresh, sweepingly powerful and gorgeously lyrical ways unlike any other current jazz pianist...Gardony is treasured...for his percussive density, tireless inventiveness and consistent excitement.”
—Jeff Simon, BUFFALO NEWS

“Bill Evans to the next level.”
—David Prince, THE NEW MEXICAN

"A superior jazz improviser who infuses his post-bop music with references to his Hungarian folk roots"
—Scott Yanow, ALL MUSIC GUIDE

“Gardony is not afraid to expand the vocabulary of his instrument...sure this is the blues, but it rarely feels this fine.”
—Richard B. Kamins, CADENCE

“His reach runs from Ellington through Monk and Coltrane, and his spins on the material are fascinating - including his hilariously dissonant, Beethovenesque reading of ‘Good King Wenceslas.”
—Gene Santoro, NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
 

"What Laszlo's accomplished indeed is something very special by winning the Great American Piano Competition... It is indeed something quite unique for us to have that caliber of faculty member who is out doing a variety of things both professional and educational... Laszlo's fits the perfect faculty mold of a good teacher and a world-class performing musician. "
—Dr. Warrick Carter, FORMER PROVOST AT BERKLEE COLLEGE OF MUSIC

"...he is an excellent spokesman for jazz. I think his music is just beautiful...Laszlo's music touches a whole lot of people and I'm thankful with our 100,000 watts we can help him touch more."
—Eric Jackson, WGBH ERIC IN THE EVENING

"...he's a very gifted musician, pianist... it is very satisfying for me to see and hear a gifted musician come out and do something this wonderful."
—Duke DuBois, VP OF JAZZ PROMOTION FOR GRP/IMPULSE RECORDS

"It wasn't just one fixed idea that would sound the same every time that it was performed. I was very impressed with that as well as with his technique and just his imagination, which are very impressive. "
—Bob Blumenthal, MARSALIS MUSIC CREATIVE CONSULTANT

“Laszlo’s performance at the ‘95 Monterey Jazz Festival was a breath of fresh air.”
—Tim Jackson, DIRECTOR OF THE MONTEREY JAZZ FESTIVAL

“A very sensitive pianist with an uncommon depth of soul.”
—Willard Jenkins, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR TRI-C JAZZ FESTIVAL

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Primary Instrument

Piano

Location

Boston

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Credentials/Background

A highly respected piano professor at Berklee College of Music - who also teaches at Harvard University’s Jazz Combo Initiative, - Laszlo Gardony is a master educator. He leads his clinics with skill, conviction, vision, and sensitivity. Students come away inspired, creatively charged and with a deeper understanding of their music. In 2016 Gardony gave a master class at the International Association of Schools of Jazz Conference (IASJ). In 2016 and 2015 he conducted clinics in the Dominican Republic with Marco Pignataro, Managing Director of the Berklee Global Institute. In 2014 he was invited to serve as adjudicator for the Jazz Combo Competition at Harvard. In 2013 he was one of three Berklee professors to be invited to Brazil to give a week of master classes at the Conservatorio Souza Lima. In 2012 he was part of the Berklee All Stars group performing in Germany. In 2002 Laszlo was invited to perform with his trio at the International Association of Jazz Educators Conference. He gave clinics and performed during the 2002 Berklee Scholarship and Audition Tour in Ireland as well. Laszlo holds degrees from the Bela Bartok Conservatory and the Science University in Budapest, as well as the Professional Music Diploma from Berklee College of Music.

Clinic/Workshop Information

Read more

Primary Instrument

Piano

Location

Boston

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Credentials/Background

A highly respected piano professor at Berklee College of Music - who also teaches at Harvard University’s Jazz Combo Initiative, - Laszlo Gardony is a master educator. He leads his clinics with skill, conviction, vision, and sensitivity. Students come away inspired, creatively charged and with a deeper understanding of their music. In 2016 Gardony gave a master class at the International Association of Schools of Jazz Conference (IASJ). In 2016 and 2015 he conducted clinics in the Dominican Republic with Marco Pignataro, Managing Director of the Berklee Global Institute. In 2014 he was invited to serve as adjudicator for the Jazz Combo Competition at Harvard. In 2013 he was one of three Berklee professors to be invited to Brazil to give a week of master classes at the Conservatorio Souza Lima. In 2012 he was part of the Berklee All Stars group performing in Germany. In 2002 Laszlo was invited to perform with his trio at the International Association of Jazz Educators Conference. He gave clinics and performed during the 2002 Berklee Scholarship and Audition Tour in Ireland as well. Laszlo holds degrees from the Bela Bartok Conservatory and the Science University in Budapest, as well as the Professional Music Diploma from Berklee College of Music.

Clinic/Workshop Information

Laszlo’s clinics can be tailored to students of jazz, professional jazz musicians, or non-professional musicians. The clinics are designed to give the individual an overall understanding and appreciation of the elements of improvisation, contemporary harmony, and composition on the creation and performance of jazz. The Laszlo Gardony Trio is also available for educational opportunities and clinics. Laszlo has performed or given clinics at numerous colleges and universities including: Harvard University Hartt School of Music Rhode Island College University of Maine Bradford College Matrix Music Center in England Liszt Academy in Hungary Fullerton College in Los Angeles Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo Newpark School in Ireland SIberlius Academy in Finland Pop/Jazz Academy in Finand

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