SLAMCD 579
CD Title Nem füstöl a zentaji gyár kéménye
Leader or group name SZILÁRD MEZEI TÚL A TISZÁN INNEN ENSEMBLE
Names of musicians and the instruments they play.
Szilárd MEZEI – viola, vocal (on CD1/3)
Svetlana NOVAKOVIÆ – flute, alto flute Bogdan RANKOVIÆ – bass clarinet, alto sax, clarinet Béla BURÁNY – baritone sax, soprano sax
Tijana STANKOVIÆ – violin Ákos KESZÉG - violin
Branislav AKSIN – trombone Marina DŽUKLJEV - piano
Ivan BURKA – vibraphone, marimba
Ervin MALINA – double bass
István CSÍK – drums
CD 1
1. Nem füstöl a zentaji gyár kéménye 08:07
2. Esküvõröl jövet 13:20
3. Nem zörög a levél, ha a szél nem fújja 14:47
4. Széles a Duna 08:34
5. Juhászlegény a pusztába 11:14
6. Udvaromat egy nagy árok hasítsa 08:51
CD 2
1. Nem idevaló születésû vagyok én 20:01
2. Hervad az a buza kit a kasza elvág 08:44
3. Ma menyasszony, holnap asszony 08:41
4. Esteledik, alkonyodik 08:31
5. Túl a Tiszán zöld erdõbe születtem 05:31
6. Udvaromba arany válú 11:44
Composers
All themes are Hungarian folk songs from Vojvodina Compositions and arrangements by Szilárd Mezei
Recording details:
Date and place of recording. Rec. 19-21. August 2015 at Kulturni Centar Novi Sad
Name of sound engineer(s) for recording and mastering. Sound engineer for recording: Lazar Zivanac. Mixed and mastered by Szilárd Mezei
Violist Szilárd Mezei is of Hungarian descent,
raised in the Vojvodina region of north Serbia, where
he was immersed in regional folk music. Túl a Tiszán
Innen was organized to interpret this music, the
name cleverly implying it is both from here (this
bank of the Tiszá river) and beyond. Nem füstöl a
zentaji gyár kéménye is the undectet’s second
recording, two discs of folksong arranged for three
strings, four winds, marimba and rhythm section,
featuring frequent Mezei collaborators clarinetist/
saxophonist Bogdan Ranković, trombonist Branislav
Aksin, bassist Ervin Malina and drummer István
Csík. Space prohibits full appreciation of this
musical tapestry, but it bears repeated listening for
plangent melodies rendered in unisons, parallel
harmonies or counterpoint; composed sections
alternating with free blowing solos or ensembles;
and colorful combinations of instruments.
Tom Greenland JULY 2017 | THE NEW YORK CITY JAZZ RECORD
You usually don’t think of Serbia as a hotbed for jazz, but that’s where Szilard Mezei was born. He plays viola, and uses Hungarian folk songs as the basis for the twelve pieces on this two disc set. The ensemble includes reeds, woodwinds, strings, brass, vibes and a rhythm section while the pieces themselves are rich with melody, brought out and accentuated by the various artists. The flutes and reeds are sublime on gentle themes of "Nm Zorog…" with a chamber feel during "Nem Fustol A Zentaji…" Bogdan Rankovic’s bass clarinet lurks mysteriously on "Ma Menyasszony…" and there are glorious harmonies for the flowing "Nem Idevalo…" . Pastoral vibes hover on "Eskuvorol Jovet" and Mezei delights with rich water color strokes during a charming "Szeles A Duna." There is a rich mix of freedom from the soloists held well in the form by the strong traditional pieces. This is a delight! George W. Harris http://www.jazzweekly.com/2017/02/ringer-of-the-weekserbian-jazz-szilard-mezei-tul-a-tiszan-innen-ensemble-nem-fustol-a-zentaji-gyar-kemenye/
SZILÁRD MEZEI TÚL A TISZÁN INNEN ENSEMBLE - "Nem füstöl a zentaji gyár kéménye/There’s No Smoke Coming from the Chimney of Zentra’s Factory" (Slam579; UK) Although Serbian-born violist and composer, Szilard Mezei, seems to keep a low profile, he has remained extremely prolific with more than two dozen discs (including several double discs) on various labels: Leo, Not Teo, Konnex, Ayler and Slam. Whether doing duos, trios, quartet and large ensembles, Mr. Mezei continues to explore and expand his vision. The Tul A Tiszan Innen Ensemble, is an eleven piece project is a moderate sized unit with a handful of players whose names I recognize from other Mezei discs. Like many of his previous discs, this one is based on themes from a dozen Hungarian folk songs, all written and arranged by Mr. Mezei. I played this disc all the way through twice on Monday (1/2/17), marveling at the hard work that Mezei put into it.
The ensemble consists of a diverse crew: three reeds, three strings, trombone, piano, vibes, bass & drums. After the folky opening theme, the ensemble erupts with several waves moving independently, led by the viola, the reeds or the vibes. Each piece features a central theme that sounds somewhat familiar and is repeated over and over while subsections of the band play with the themes while someone solos on top. On a song called,"Returning from a Wedding", the viola takes a fine solo which soon turns into a another solo by the piano, making it difficult to tell where one solo ends and the next one begins. Most unexpectedly, Mr. Mezei sings on a couple of songs, in a resolute yet charming voice, like the ancient spirit of the land, the music (mostly strings and vibes), in dream-like clouds, haunting, enchanting… "Shepherd Lad in the Pusta" has this hypnotic pulsating bass line that churns throughout with some long inventive, story-telling solos from the viola and trombone.
Disc one ends with a most impressive piece, "My Yard’s Been Divided by a Trench", with superb ensemble writing and playing and phenomenal flute and viola interplay, fractured bari sax, crazed marimba and frenzied strings in a later section.
There is way too much great music on these discs to describe it all here. It is time for Szilard Mezei to get the recognition he rightly deserves as one of the guiding lights of progress/avant/Eurojazz. - Bruce Lee
Gallanter, DMG