Gábor Szabó
Background information
Birth nameGábor István Szabó
Born(1936-03-08)March 8, 1936
Budapest, Hungary
DiedFebruary 26, 1982(1982-02-26) (aged 45)
Budapest
GenresJazz, pop, rock
Occupation(s)Musician, composer
Instrument(s)Guitar
Years active1958–1982
LabelsImpulse!, Skye, Blue Thumb, CTI

Gábor István Szabó (March 8, 1936 – February 26, 1982) was a Hungarian-American guitarist whose style incorporated jazz, pop, rock, and Hungarian music.[1]

Early years

Szabó was born in Budapest, Hungary. He began playing guitar at the age of 14. In the aftermath of the Hungarian revolution of 1956, he moved to California and later attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston between 1958 and 1960.[2]

Career

In 1961, Szabó became member of a quintet that was led by Chico Hamilton and included Charles Lloyd,[2] playing what has been described as chamber jazz, with "a moderate avant-gardism."[3] Szabó was influenced by the rock music of the 1960s, particularly the use of feedback. In 1965 he was in a jazz pop group led by Gary McFarland, then worked again with Lloyd in an energetic quartet with Ron Carter and Tony Williams.[4] The song "Gypsy Queen" from Szabó's debut solo album Spellbinder became a hit for rock guitarist Carlos Santana. During the late 1960s, Szabó worked in a group with guitarist Jimmy Stewart.[2] He started the label Skye Records with McFarland and Cal Tjader.[5]

Szabó continued to be drawn to more popular, commercial music in the 1970s. He performed often in California, combining elements of Gypsy and Indian music with jazz. He returned often to his home country of Hungary to perform, and it was there that he died just short of his 46th birthday.[2][6]

Death

While visiting family in Budapest during the Christmas holiday, Szabó was admitted to the hospital and finally succumbed to the liver and kidney ailments he suffered from and died on February 26, 1982. He was buried in Farkasréti Cemetery.

Discography

As leader

As sideman

With Steve Allen

  • Songs for Gentle People (Dunhill, 1967)

With Paul Desmond

With Charles Earland

  • The Great Pyramid (Mercury, 1976)

With Coke Escovedo

With Chico Hamilton

With Charles Lloyd

  • Of Course, Of Course (Columbia, 1965)
  • Nirvana (Columbia, 1965 [rel. 1968])
  • Waves (A&M, 1972)
  • Manhattan Stories [live] (Resonance, 2014) - 2CD set; recorded 1965

With Gary McFarland

References

  1. ↑ "GABOR SZABO: BIOGRAPHY". dougpayne.com. Retrieved 2018-06-29.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Payne, Douglas. "Gabor Szabo". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  3. ↑ Berendt, Joachim (1976). The Jazz Book. Paladin. p. 294.
  4. ↑ Nadal, James. "Gabor Szabo". All About Jazz.
  5. ↑ Payne, Douglas. "Gary McFarland". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  6. ↑ "Donal Dineen's Sunken Treasure: Gabor Szabo's Dreams". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2018-06-29.
  7. ↑ "Gabor Szabo". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
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