Nigun


"There are halls in Heaven that open their gates only to the voice of song."- Zohar


“I’ve found you’ve got to look back at the old things and see them in a new light.” - John Coltrane


Nigun was started by the Hungarian guitarist Andras Parniczky in 2001. In Europe, Nigun is the only follower of East-European Jewish traditions as a jazz combo, the origins of which are found both in deeper spirituality and today's jazz. Nigun likes genre-bending. "Klez-jazz" is the best label for their music, but the creativity and the spontaneous spirit of the group is also very significant in their play. Gyorgy Jeszenszky drummer and the bass player Peter Nagy are equal partners in playing Parniczky's written music as well as being part of an organic suite based approach with live ensemble composition.


The formation often works together with guest musicians. Their third album was released in 2006 (Bale Kulturnik, Etnofon records) and it features the Israeli saxophonist Daniel Zamir (Satlah). In the same year, members of the group participated in John Zorn's Cobra performance in the Palace Of Arts (Budapest, Hungary) under the direction of Zorn himself. Since 2007 multi-instrumentalist Matt Darriau (Klezmatics, Paradox Trio) has been a recurring guest of Nigun just like Miklos Lukacs, a cimbalom (Hungarian folk dulcimer) artist. Occasionally the band shares the stage with Steven Bernstein (Sex Mob), Mihaly Dresch and Daniel Szabo as well.

andras

Andras Parniczky


He was born in Geneva, Switzerland, 1972. He began studying music at Ferenc Erkel Music School in Budapest. He continued his studies at the American Institute of Music in Vienna then he relocated to Budapest where he graduated at Jazz Department of the Ferenc Liszt Music Academy as a jazz-guitar performer and teacher. In 2001 he received a scholarship to the Jazz Department of The Royal Conservatory, The Hague, the Netherlands. Since 1990 he has been playing at many festivals and events. Besides he has leaded groups like Parniczky Quartet and Quintet he was playing in many jazz and klezmer bands. In August 2001 he founded the group Nigun, since than they are giving concerts in Hungary and in abroad as well. He performed John Zorn's Cobra under the prompting of Zorn himself. He has played and/or recorded with Steven Bernstein (Sex Mob), Matt Darriau (Klezmatics), Aaron Alexander (Hasidic New Wave), Arthur Kell, Daniel Zamir, Mihaly Dresch, Istvan Balo, Kristof Bacso, Jozsef Barcza Horvath, Miklos Lukacs, Andras Monori, Matyas Szandai, Daniel Szabo and classical piano artist Adam Fellegi. He also performed with a big band conducted by Graham Collier. Besides playing the guitar and composing music he also wrote several arrangements that are played by Hungarian big bands. In 2001, he scored music for the strings of the Residentie Orkest, which was performed at the Anton Phillips Zaal in The Hague. He took part in movie Portugal (dir.: Andor Lukacs) and Chacho Rom (dir.: Ildiko Szabo) as a musician and in dance films Door Quatrologie and Barbakan (dir.: Mariann Gaal) as a music director. He took place as a composer and a guitar player in dance pieces like Ko-Papir-..., Ott and Chance Operation. He's been giving lessons at the Bela Bartok Conservatory's Jazz Department since 2003, he was the guitar and combo teacher at the Lauder Javne Music School between 2004 and 2006. Recently he's teaching at the Etud Music School. He also give interdisciplinary workshops in Hungary and in Denmark (Silkeborg, Performers House) as well. He publishing reviews at the Gramofon Classical and Jazz magazine since 2004 and writings at Fidelio Magazin and Online regularly.

peti

Peter Ajtai


Peter Ajtai was born in Budapest, on 4th May, 1986. He began playing the double-bass at the age of 16. During his high school years, he took lessons from Gabor Busshy and Balazs Horvath. After graduation, he attended the Egressy Beni Jazz Conservatory where he became a student of Jozsef Barcza Horvath and then got admitted to the Franz Liszt University of Music in 2008, to study from Tibor Csuhaj Barna. He's still studying there, completing the Master's course. He studied classic double-bass from Zsolt Fejervari and Gergely Jardanyi.
Currently, he is a member of the Geroly Trio, Trio Fold, the KAMP and Jazz Byzantium bands. He has also played in different formations of Mihaly Dresch, Gabor Gado and Istvan Grencso.


Nigun has played on the following festivals:

  • 2002
    Chanuka Gala, Etno Zenei Festival, Jazztergom, Kalaka Folkfestival, Klezmorim Days, Mediawave, Valley of Arts, Stetl Festival, Sziget Festival, Jewish Summer Festival

  • 2003
    Debreceni Jazz Days, I. Etno Jazz Festival, Etno-Christmas, Europe Cultural Avenue, Hanuka Festival, Hettorony Festivall, Kalaka Folkfestival, Valley of Arts, Ost-West Folkfestival, Pusztamamor, Szeged Jazz Days, Sziget Festivall, Tolerance Day

  • 2004
    Balintszatelit, EFOTT, Fak UnnepeFestival, Magyar Magic - World Jazz from Hungary (London), Mediawave, Savaria Historical Carneval, Sziget Festival,Culrutes of Nations Folkfestival, Hanuka Fest, Etno-Christmas

  • 2005
    Budapest Jazz Festival, Cserfő Jazz Festival, EU Days at Andrassy street, 2nd KlezmorFest Vienna (Ausztria), MASZK, Valley of Arts, POSZT, Szentendre Jazz Theatrum Festival, Vilagsztarok a Millenarison

  • 2006
    Fak Ujeve Festival, Szent Gyorgy Days, Valley of Arts, Sziget Festival, Jazz Brno, Hannuka Festival

  • 2007
    BRXL Bravo Art Festival (Bruxelles), Sziget Festival, Mol Jazz Festival, ShalomFeszt, Hanuka Festival

  • 2008
    Summer at Chainbridge Festivall, Sziget Festival Klubradió Jazz stage, Ujbuda Jazz Festival, Entre Festival

  • 2009
    Magyar Jazz Unnep, POSZT, Ujbuda Jazz Festival, Budapest Jazz Festival, Karpatmedence Kincsei Festival, Negyed 6 negyed 7 Festival

gyuri

Gyorgy Jeszenszky


He was born in Budapest, 1963. He received his diploma from the Bela Bartók Conservatory of Music in 1987. Since then he has been one of the most sought-after jazz drummers. He has played among others with Steven Bernstein, Matt Darriau, Herbie Mann, Tony Lakatos, Eldad Tarmu, Peter King, Jim Mullen, Hamid Drake, Zbignievw Namislowsky, Gabor Gado and has also recorded several albums. An important event in his career was to play in Istvan Grencso's various formations. Currently he is a member of the ViktorToth Tercett, Equinox, East Side Jazz Company, Dora Szolnoki Jazz Quintet and the Trio Acoustic. He teaches drums at the Ferenc Liszt Music Academy's Jazz Deparment.

peti

Peter Bede


Peter Bede started playing the saxophone at the age of 17 after playing the clarinet for 7 years. Mihaly Dresch played a significant role in that his interest turned to jazz and folk music after his studies in classical music. He got his degree in 2007 at the jazz department of the Franz Liszt University of Music. He has played at numerous hungarian and international festivals, in clubs, radio and tv shows over the years. His style is defined by both jazz and classical, although folk music has the greatest impact on his music. He's been attending folk music camps in Gyimes and Moldova since 2002, where he is able to learn from authentic sources. Bands he's been working with over the years include Besh O Drom, Fanfara Complexa, Kalman Balogh Gypsy Cimbalom Band, Szilvia Bognar Band. He's also a frequent guest of the Buda Folk Band and also Szeretet, led by Balazs Vizely. He also likes to play experimental improvisational music, a good example of that is his vinyl record with viola player Szilard Mezei. He's been an active attendant of the Kiksöröspusztai Jazz Festival (held annually, on every 20th August), since he was 2 months old.