Classic in Jazz
Frankie Lato - violin
Janos Nagy - piano
Feat.: Abel Nagy - guitar
Franz Liszt was the greatest improvisator of his age: his audience was impressed with his improvisations on any theme – even with an aria from a popular opera or a Hungarian melody. His transcriptions and paraphrases are mostly notations of these improvisations. Frankie Lato and Janos Nagy have undertaken to adapt the themes of Liszt works, or their short movements, to create music with its own character infused with the language of jazz and rich in improvisation.
Frankie Lato was born on 10th June, 1971. He comes from musicians' families both on his mother and father's side. The musical history of his family can be traced back to the 1800's and encyclopaedias, awards and recordings verify the unique musical abilities of his ancestors.
Paris was a turning point in his life. He joined the Boulougne Conservatoire and College in 1989 and remained there until 1992. During this time he performed in restaurants and jazz clubs. It was the time when he became interested in improvisative music. In 1991 he met jazz-violinist Didier Lockwood, the favourite student of the famous Stephane Grappelli. Thus, he could learn the ins and outs of jazz-violin second hand. He, apart from short periods, spent these years in France, which he has considered his second home ever since. He regularly performed at Trois-Maillets (a Parisian bar), where his violin skills were inspired by excellent South American musicians.
He has worked with such excellent musicians as Joe Murányi, Dave Samuels, Sam Rivers, and Mike Stern.
His credo is following the style represented by Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli (the 'Hot Club de France' of French origins from the 1920's) and mixing the 'old school' swing and modern jazz on five-string violin.
Janos Nagy after graduating form The Franz Liszt Academy of Music with a degree in jazz piano, composing and arranging, he won first place at the Jazz Juniors contest in Cracow, received the “Best Soloist” award at the Getxo International Jazz Festival, and in 2003, as “Best Soloist of the Year,” he recieved an eMeRton award. In 2005 he was given an Artisjus award, in 2011 Ferenc Erkel prize (prize of the Hungarian Culture Department). Over the course of his carrier he played and recorded among others with Al diMeola, Alex Acuna, Arnie Somogyi, Ben Castle, Bernard Maseli, David Murray, Dave Samuels, Dewey Redman, Krzysztof Scieranski, Garry Willis, Paco Sery, Sangoma Everett, Tony Lakatos and Winston Clifford.
Abel Nagy (16) is one of the most talented young guitarist in Hungary with incredible technical ability combined with a nice sound and a wonderful musical sense. He plays changes with precision and creativity. Abel began playing the piano at five years of age, and later, at age of ten, he started mastering his guitar skills. Currently he attends Premonstratensian St. Norbert High School, Church Music Secondary School.
"I have been very impressed with Abel Nagy since I first heard him. Whether playing with him in various situations including the Soul Six Band or Hungarian Music Orchestra, I am always touched by his spirited, daring improvisations." - Pal Vasvari /Bassist, Composer/
