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!

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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

Fusing a sound self described as “Slow, simmering, noirish dirges, spastic no-wave tangos, repetitive rhythmic conundrums, Weimar-style cabaret songs, Drunken revelry, crippling depression, extreme self loathing, Catholic guilt, clanking, scraping and radio noise.“, they are a magical formula of Vialka meets The Tiger Lillies meets Final Fantasy in orchestra format. My love for orchestral sounds and neo-proggy pop never be gone! The music is adventurous yet it’s at the same time very reminiscent in form, it’s warm and heartfelt folkish music, but as I said it’s not your typical guitar & bearded folk, the compositions are highly unconventional.

Mr. Redfearn has been in 30 bands and involved with dozens of theatre, dance, and film collaborations, so it’s easy to say he’s an unstoppable man. His homepage has mp3s from his previous bands which I’ve sampled below yet there’s even more music to be explored there and links to relatively unknown bands like my new found affinity Reverend Glasseye. First two songs below are from “The Smother Party” and you can sample the new album on their myspace.

Alec K. Redfearn & The Eyesores - Valse II
Alec K. Redfearn & The Eyesores - Choreboy and a Blowtorch
Alec K. Redfearn & The Eyesores - Black Tar and White Slavery
Amoebic Ensemble - Gimme a buck or I’ll touch you/Boilermaker
The Eyesores - Dashboard Lazarus
Reverend Glasseye - God help you dumb boy

It’s probably the same as electronics. They take revenge from the western world by doing the things they take from westerners better than the west. Yes, don’t be fooled by their smiling toy faces, Japs are mean little bastards when it comes to jazz.

With this classic yet never out-fashioned maximal style of nippon-jazz (just the way GP likes it), they’re creating, in their own terms, an impact similar to their elder brothers Kyoto Jazz Massive or like what Jazztronik has done with
acid jazz…With more italian suits and golden teeth of course.

Soil and Pimp Sessions - No Taboo
Soil and Pimp Sessions - Suffocation
Jazztronik - Rita
Jazztronik and more goodies on Trees Lounge a great compilation on songs about Hawaii..
Listen to the latest Beyond Jazz radioshow featuring Jazztronik and more..