Balogh Kálmán - tambal
Dresch Mihály - ts, ss, caval
Kovács Ferenc - v, t
Szandai Mátyás - b
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
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.