Balogh Kálmán was born in Miskolc . When he was 11 he started playing the cimbalom. His first teacher was his uncle, Balogh Elemér, later on his teacher was Szöllősi Beatrix and during university years – Gerencsér Ferenc. He graduated from Liszt Ferenc Music Academy in 1980. He was awarded Artisjus prize in 2005.

Hungary ’s best known cimbalom player nowadays, he’s had an important contribution to the spreading of cimbalom. He played everywhere in the world with popular artists, with jazz bands such as BDS Collection, Improvocation, Quartett B, Dresch Quartett, Archie Shepp, Vukán György, Lakatos Ágnes, Budapest Ragtime Band.

He also played Háry János by Kodály Zoltán with symphonic orchestras from Brooklyn , Philadelphia , Miami , Tallin and Madrid . He is no stranger to contemporary music; he played with Új Zenei Műhely (The New Muzic Workshop) from Miskolc , with the '180 Group' and with Márta István

Mihály Dresch , who is heard on tenor, soprano, and shepherd’s pipe, stretches the forms without discarding the themes or the rhythms. Although the Mihály Dresch has worked with such top members of the avant-garde as Dewey Redman, David Murray, Roscoe Mitchell, and John Tchicai, the music is more melodic and accessible.

A major asset to the group is violinist Ferenc Kovács, who adds a great deal to some of the gypsy music while having a jazz sensibility, too.

Kovács Ferenc was born on 16th July 1957 in Budapest . He graduated from the Liszt Ferenc Music- and Singing Teachers' College . During his career he has participated in the activities of several contemporary creative workshops. He worked in György Szabados' band, Makuz. At the moment he is a significant member of Mihály Dresh's quartet. Since 1994 he has been the member of the Balogh Kálmán Gipsy Cimbalom Band and the Romano Kokalo.