We’ve already mentioned this year’s most exciting lineup on Leaf where A Hawk and a Hacksaw meet with the Hun Hangar Ensemble lead by Béla Ágostone master of Hungarian folk music & jazz and a multi instrumentalist playing Hungarian bagpipes, clarinet, alto saxophone, taragoto, viola. I’ve had the pleasure of listening to Béla’s own stuff and his band the Agostones but he’s unfortunately barely known outside his circles so we’re extremely happy to see this team up.

The rest of the ensemble include Zsolt Kürtösi playing bass and accordion, Ferenc Kovács playing trumpet & violin and Balázs Unger playing the cymbalom (a dulcimer-like instrument central to traditional Hungarian music) since the age of 14 in a wide variety of styles. By now you should have noticed that these guys are extremely talented to the point of playing brass & strings together (not at the same time though :P) and this translates to their music and makes it a special treat.

Mixing Hungarian, Serbian, Romanian and klezmer melodies with Jeremy’s own compositions, the output of this extraordinary ensemble was this 30 minute CD and that’s precisely the only downside of this album because 8 songs will leave you begging for more instantly. I bet all of these musicians can play traditional folk songs for hours if given the right drinking atmosphere and I’d be hard pressed not to go to Budapest and listen to them! (If I had money of course!) I just want to make you listen to all the songs but then you won’t go out and buy it! It’s limited edition so go and buy it now, there’s also a 20 minute bonus DVD documentary about A Hawk and a Hacksaw. Not to be missed!

Agostones Live

Also included are sample tracks from Agostones‘ 2005 album Ördögbomba which mixes ‘the sounds of big band, free jazz, various dialects of Hungarian folk music, influences of balkan melodies and rhythm, atmospheres of classical music and references from pop music’ extremely creative & Mágia Nosztra Bela’s 2006 album which is more jazzy.

A Hawk and a Hacksaw & Hun Hangar Ensemble – Serbian Cocek
A Hawk and a Hacksaw & Hun Hangar Ensemble – Ihabibi
Béla Ágostone – Klezmermozaik
Agostones – Kutyarondó