Szandra Szoke

Szandra Szoke Quintet

Szandra Szoke represents a new generation of singer-songwriters in the Hungarian jazz scene. Having teamed up with exquisite, experienced jazz musicians, the Szandra Szoke Quintet defines itself as modern jazz ensemble with a unique, story-telling angle, making an attempt to find balance between lyrics that are rich in thought and music that is colorful and excels in virtuosity.

Szandra Szoke / voice Gabor Cseke / piano Istvan Fekete / trumpet Peter Olah / double bass Csaba Pusztai / drums

Awards

"Memory Palace", 3rd place in Best Song Category, 7th Annual Jazzy Awards, Budapest, Hungary.

Szandra Szoke Quintet: Memory Palace

Read "Memory Palace" reviewed by Bruce Lindsay

by Bruce Lindsay
April 16, 2015

Memory Palace is the hugely enjoyable debut recording from the Szandra Szoke Quintet, a Hungarian group led by a young vocalist and writer with a talent for both composition and performance. Szoke and pianist Gabor Cseke co-wrote the music to all but one of the songs on Memory Palace with the singer contributing the lyrics to six of the nine tracks. Szoke has a talent for writing lyrics (in English) that are filled with imaginative imagery and enough ...

"It takes a certain boldness to – in the space of just over a year – begin a new musical endeavor, and to populate the debut album with all original music. That’s what Szandra Szoke has done with this first outing, and the result is a solid set of very personal lyrics and music."