Hungarian guitarist Gábor Szabó is, in some respects, a forefather of jazz fusion. In the mid-1960s, his rhythmic guitar style, avant-garde feel and smart interpretations of pop-rock hits paved the way for sophisticated rock experimentation by young jazz guitarists. In most cases, his interpretations of hit songs produced a more interesting listen.
Szabó left Budapest when he was 20, in 1956, after the Hungarian Uprising. The revolution was an attempt to rid the country of a Soviet puppet government, an event that lasted 12 days before Soviet tanks and troops rolled in to crush the rebellion.
Settling in California, Szabó attended Berklee College of music from 1958 to 1960. The following year he began playing with Chico Hamilton and then Charles Lloyd. By the mid-1960s, Szabó started to take on pop with Gary McFarland. In 1968 he co-founded Blue Skye Records with McFarland and vibraphonist Cal Tjader.
In August 1966, Szabó recorded Jazz Raga for Impulse Records, produced by Bob Thiele. The music wasn't interpretations of Indian folk music but groovy swinging featuring Szabó on sitar for Indian flavoring. He was backed by Bob Bushnell (g on tracks 1–3, 5, 7 and 9), Johnny Gregg (b) and Bernard Purdie (d).
Unfortunately, many of Szabó's albums weren't perfectly produced and feature uneven song choices and pop interpretations that range from brilliant to disappointing. Jazz Raga is an exception. His playing and compositions are uniformly excellent, creating a terrific sound toned by the sitar and Indian percussion. Szabó's guitar here reflects the swinging sound of the 1960s, proving that no other jazz artist was more in tune with the music ushered in by the British Invasion and its impact on the youth culture. [Photo above of Gábor Szabó courtesy of YouTube]
Gábor Szabó died in 1982 on a trip home to Budapest, where he succumbed to long-time liver and kidney problems. He was 45.
JazzWax tracks: You'll find Gábor Szabó's Jazz Raga (Impulse) here or at major streaming platforms.
JazzWax clips: Here's Paint It Black, by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards...
Here's Krishna...
And here's Sophisticated Wheels...
Bonus: Here's Gábor Szabó in action in Budapest in 1974...
Szabó left Budapest when he was 20, in 1956, after the Hungarian Uprising. The revolution was an attempt to rid the country of a Soviet puppet government, an event that lasted 12 days before Soviet tanks and troops rolled in to crush the rebellion.
Settling in California, Szabó attended Berklee College of music from 1958 to 1960. The following year he began playing with Chico Hamilton and then Charles Lloyd. By the mid-1960s, Szabó started to take on pop with Gary McFarland. In 1968 he co-founded Blue Skye Records with McFarland and vibraphonist Cal Tjader.
In August 1966, Szabó recorded Jazz Raga for Impulse Records, produced by Bob Thiele. The music wasn't interpretations of Indian folk music but groovy swinging featuring Szabó on sitar for Indian flavoring. He was backed by Bob Bushnell (g on tracks 1–3, 5, 7 and 9), Johnny Gregg (b) and Bernard Purdie (d).
Unfortunately, many of Szabó's albums weren't perfectly produced and feature uneven song choices and pop interpretations that range from brilliant to disappointing. Jazz Raga is an exception. His playing and compositions are uniformly excellent, creating a terrific sound toned by the sitar and Indian percussion. Szabó's guitar here reflects the swinging sound of the 1960s, proving that no other jazz artist was more in tune with the music ushered in by the British Invasion and its impact on the youth culture. [Photo above of Gábor Szabó courtesy of YouTube]
Gábor Szabó died in 1982 on a trip home to Budapest, where he succumbed to long-time liver and kidney problems. He was 45.
JazzWax tracks: You'll find Gábor Szabó's Jazz Raga (Impulse) here or at major streaming platforms.
JazzWax clips: Here's Paint It Black, by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards...
Here's Krishna...
And here's Sophisticated Wheels...
Bonus: Here's Gábor Szabó in action in Budapest in 1974...
This story appears courtesy of JazzWax by Marc Myers.
Copyright © 2025. All rights reserved.
