FERENC SNÉTBERGER - In Concert
ECM 473 2221
Ferenc Snétberger (guitar)
Recorded December 2013
Recorded live in concert at Budapest's Franz Liszt Academy of Music, in front of an appreciative audience, this is the Hungarian guitarists debut recording for ECM. Snétberger has a small but impressive discography as leader on other imprints, and has frequently collaborated with Arild Andersen and trumpeter Markus Stockhausen.
Initially steeped in the jazz tradition, and an ardent fan of John Coltrane, Charlie Parker and guitarists Jim Hall and Django Reinhardt. He has been touched by the Roma traditon of his native country as well as South American and flamenco traditions. All this is detectable in his playing that has also been deeply affected and infused with his love of Johann Sebastian Bach, and subsequent studies in classical music. All of this combined presents a fully developed voice, and a well rounded musician who is now looking to further cement his own musical path and destiny.
This solo album displays the sheer amount of groundwork and practice that Snétberger has devoted to his craft. Presented in eight parts, 'Budapest I - VIII', and a more familiar closer with 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow' the guitarist is solely focused on the music presented for his audience. There are no virtuosic displays to dazzle, just simply one man and his guitar.
Improvisation plays a large part in this performance, with 'Budapest I' opening with an improvisation and it is not unit half way through that the melody is heard, and is immediately follow by the almost wholly improvised 'Budapest II' as is 'Budapest V' which is played without any fixed pulse.
Material from the guitarist's discography is also revisited and given fresh treatments. The aforementioned melody heard in 'Budapest I' has previously been heard in duet with Markus Stockhausen, and 'Budapest VI' contains a melodic motif from a compostion 'Empathy' that was originally written for a large ensemble, and also performed by Arild Andersen and drummer, Paolo Vinaccia.
Not being at the concert, the overall impression of the recording is music making of high standard presented in the moment, and therein lies the rub. Repeated listens reiterate the above, but there is nothing that really sticks in the mind and perhaps being at one of Snétberger's solo recitals at the point of creation is more rewarding than listening to a playback after the event. There was not enough variation in the material to make any particular track stand out from another, and at times when listening it is possible to miss when one piece finishes and another ends.
Moment by moment there is much to enjoy, but a wider scope of material and mood is required to sustain a full album of solo acoustic guitar. ECM advise that further recordings with the guitarist are in preparation, including a recording of his new trio with bassist Anders Jormin and Joey Baron on drums which is potentially an entirely different animal. Watch this space...
Reviewed by Nick Lea
ECM 473 2221
Ferenc Snétberger (guitar)
Recorded December 2013
Recorded live in concert at Budapest's Franz Liszt Academy of Music, in front of an appreciative audience, this is the Hungarian guitarists debut recording for ECM. Snétberger has a small but impressive discography as leader on other imprints, and has frequently collaborated with Arild Andersen and trumpeter Markus Stockhausen.
Initially steeped in the jazz tradition, and an ardent fan of John Coltrane, Charlie Parker and guitarists Jim Hall and Django Reinhardt. He has been touched by the Roma traditon of his native country as well as South American and flamenco traditions. All this is detectable in his playing that has also been deeply affected and infused with his love of Johann Sebastian Bach, and subsequent studies in classical music. All of this combined presents a fully developed voice, and a well rounded musician who is now looking to further cement his own musical path and destiny.
This solo album displays the sheer amount of groundwork and practice that Snétberger has devoted to his craft. Presented in eight parts, 'Budapest I - VIII', and a more familiar closer with 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow' the guitarist is solely focused on the music presented for his audience. There are no virtuosic displays to dazzle, just simply one man and his guitar.
Improvisation plays a large part in this performance, with 'Budapest I' opening with an improvisation and it is not unit half way through that the melody is heard, and is immediately follow by the almost wholly improvised 'Budapest II' as is 'Budapest V' which is played without any fixed pulse.
Material from the guitarist's discography is also revisited and given fresh treatments. The aforementioned melody heard in 'Budapest I' has previously been heard in duet with Markus Stockhausen, and 'Budapest VI' contains a melodic motif from a compostion 'Empathy' that was originally written for a large ensemble, and also performed by Arild Andersen and drummer, Paolo Vinaccia.
Not being at the concert, the overall impression of the recording is music making of high standard presented in the moment, and therein lies the rub. Repeated listens reiterate the above, but there is nothing that really sticks in the mind and perhaps being at one of Snétberger's solo recitals at the point of creation is more rewarding than listening to a playback after the event. There was not enough variation in the material to make any particular track stand out from another, and at times when listening it is possible to miss when one piece finishes and another ends.
Moment by moment there is much to enjoy, but a wider scope of material and mood is required to sustain a full album of solo acoustic guitar. ECM advise that further recordings with the guitarist are in preparation, including a recording of his new trio with bassist Anders Jormin and Joey Baron on drums which is potentially an entirely different animal. Watch this space...
Reviewed by Nick Lea
