Best of Budapest & Hungary

On June 14-15 the 8th Gere Jazz Festival will introduce one of the most electrifying and uninhibited styles of jazz: funk. As usual, main attractions of the event will be fine wine and delicious food in addition to jazz concerts.

Hosted and organized by Gere Attila Winery, the festival’s theme varies year by year, focusing on different genres of jazz, as well as different nations’ music, culture and gastronomy. This year organizers chose ’funk,’ in an effort to revive the glamour of the 1970s. The thrill and buzz of the music will be fueled by Gere wines, the newly restyled Gere Frici sparkling wine and cocktail specialties.

What is funk?

Funk by definition emphasizes melody and harmonic complexity and focuses on a strong rhythmic groove with percussion, electric bass, rhythm guitar and brass playing prominent roles. Funk originated in the mid-1960s in the US when African-American musicians started mixing elements of soul, soul jazz and rhythm and blues to create a new form of rhythmic dance music. Large bands put spectacular shows on stage and with the jamming of so many musicians the audience couldn’t help but get up and dance. Just like grape varieties in an exciting red cuvee, funk blends different nation’s music, from African rhythms to European harmonies.

Program

The festival begins with Malek Andi Soulistic on Friday, June 14: guests can expect a wide variety of music styles with the classics of funk reshaped to their own distinctive taste that is inspired by folk music just as much as swing. Next in line is the Garami Funky Staff featuring Nika and Bebe. The popular radio show host, Gábor Garami will play the greatest funk, disco and soul hits of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s with top-notch sound technique and will surely get the audience on their feet. Saturday, June 15 kicks off with the duo of áRON (i.e. Áron Romhányi) & Milán Szakonyi whose diverse backgrounds will provide an exciting mix of jazz, blues, funk, some quality pop and a pinch of rap for a vibrant and dynamic intro to the night. Next comes ZOLBERT ‘JAZZ+FUNK+SAX’, a big band of the saxophonist Zoltán Albert. Their repertoire is solid proof of how well funk blends with instrumental music. Random Trip, a band that is all about spontaneity, follows them. Alongside popular Hungarian musicians, the band features two stars: Dan Pearce, the singer and drummer of PBUG and Sigma, plus Vanessa Haynes, the singer of Incognito.

Gere Attila and his family welcome returning guests and first time visitors alike to this exclusive event in the Villány vineyards, for a pleasant summer weekend complete with wine and the other great passion of the family: jazz music.