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Ferenc Snetberger: In Concert

By Mark Sullivan
April 6, 2016
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Hungarian classical guitarist

Ferenc Snetberger

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Ferenc Snetberger makes his ECM debut with a live solo guitar recording, surely the most demanding and revealing format for any guitarist. His music is the product of diverse stylistic influences: starting with jazz, but then a strong classical music influence, followed by exposure to Brazilian, South American, and flamenco guitar music. Sn��tberger cites his first encounter with Johann Sebastian Bach's music as life-changing, followed by hearing ECM label mates

Egberto Gismonti

guitar
b.1947

" data-original-title="" title="">Egberto Gismonti in duo with

Nana Vasconcelos

percussion
1944 - 2016

" data-original-title="" title="">Nana Vasconcelos. The first eight tracks in the album are titled "Budapest" after the city where the performance took place. This implies a completely improvised concert similar to another label mate, pianist

Keith Jarrett

piano
b.1945

" data-original-title="" title="">Keith Jarrett. But while the playing is highly improvisational, Sn��tberger frequently draws on earlier compositions of his (and of course there's "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" as an encore).

"Budapest -Part 1" is a fiery opener, with rasgueado strumming (associated with flamenco). Initially improvised, it finally introduces an earlier melody that Sn��tberger always has at the ready. "Budapest -Part 2" is a calm contrast, showing the influence of Bach's contrapuntal writing. "Part 4" has a Brazilian samba feel, while "Part 5" is a free improvisation—but it sounds no less logical or precise than the prior selections. "Part 6" employs a tune previously performed under the title "Empathy." "Part 7" features the first performance of a new tune, and "Part 8" ends the main concert program with a reflective ballad. The version of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" was the encore for this performance at Budapest's Franz Liszt Academy of Music, a gentle exploration of the standard associated with the movie The Wizard of Oz.

It's a beautiful, assured performance, sure to appeal to fans of

Ralph Towner

guitar
b.1940

" data-original-title="" title="">Ralph Towner, another classical guitarist (primarily) long associated with ECM. There are additional ECM recordings in preparation, including a new trio with

Anders Jormin

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Anders Jormin and

Joey Baron

drums
b.1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Joey Baron. I look forward to hearing them.

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Track Listing

Budapest - Part 1; Budapest - Part 2; Budapest - Part 3; Budapest - Part 4; Budapest - Part 5; Budapest - Part 6; Budapest - Part 7; Budapest - Part 8; Somewhere Over The Rainbow.

Personnel

Ferenc Snetberger

guitar

Ferenc Sn��tberger: guitar.

Album information

Title: In Concert | Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: ECM Records

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