Kálmán Balogh

Kálmán Balogh
Birth name Kálmán Balogh
Born January 18, 1959
Miskolc, Hungary
Origin Hungarian
Genres Jazz, contemporary classic, Hungarian folk
Instruments cimbalom
Years active 1980–present
Labels Folkeuropa
Website www.kalmanbalogh.hu

Kálmán Balogh (born 18 January 1959) is a Hungarian cimbalom player and leader of Kalman Balogh's Gypsy Cimbalom Band.[1][2]

History

Balogh is a Hungarian cimbalom player, descending from a famous dynasty of Hungarian Gypsy musicians. His virtuosity is matched only by his understanding and respect of his heritage.[3] A graduate of Franz Liszt Academy of Music of Budapest completed his studies in 1980 under supervision of Ferenc Gerencsér.[4] Balogh studied the Gypsy music in Europe and Asia for several years. He has completed many successful tours throughout the world with various ensembles, including five tours in North America.[5] He has performed and toured with many of the best folk bands and has recorded dozens of albums with them and as a solo artist. He was a featured performer in numerous major European festivals and venues featuring Gypsy music. Balogh has performed on concerts in North America. He has performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra, New World Symphony, Oregon Symphony, Austin Symphony and the Band, Oregon Festival Orchestra. He also played at many North American festivals and clubs. He has played with several musicians like Arild Andersen, Patrice Heral, Ferenc Snetberger, Peter Ralchev, Ivo Papazov and Iva Bittova.[6][7] In 1985 he was awarded the Hungarian distinction of "Young Master of Folk Arts", and two years later he won second prize in the Aladár Rácz cimbalom-competition. As an artist he has performed with Hungarian bands as Jánosi, Ökrös, Téka, Méta, Muzsikás, Zsarátnok, Vízöntő, Vasmalom, the Swedish Orient-Express, the Dutch Sultan and Ot Azoj, the English Transglobal Underground, the American Peter Ogi and the Joel Rubin Jewish Ensemble. The cimbalom, a sort of oversized hammer dulcimer played with mallets like a vibraphone, possesses piano like percussive abilities to drive a band rhythmically or take the melodic lead.

Balogh was musical director of the "Magneten Gypsy Show" of Andre Heller and also performed on a CD with the Budapest Festival Orchestra playing Brahms Hungarian Dances. In 1997, he performed with the Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra and also with the Miami Philharmonic Orchestra. On 10–11 March 2010, Balogh presented his musical project The Other Europeans at the EU conference "Projects in Favour of Roma Culture", in Brussels, Belgium.[8]

Kálmán Balogh and the Gipsy Cimbalom Band

Balogh regularly plays with the Gipsy Cimbalom Band. The group performs Hungarian folk music, as well as classical music and jazz both at home and abroad.

Discography

Albums

Contributions

Awards

References

  1. ↑ Charles Hebbert, Norm Longley, Dan Richardson - Rough Guide to Hungary 5th Edition 2002 Page 454 "As well as the artists listed below, there are hundreds of great recordings in the above fields. The following simply offer an introduction. Individual artists Kalman Balogh Roma Vandor. Kalman Balogh is one of the virtuosos of the cimbalom, ..."
  2. ↑ Philip Brett, Elizabeth Wood, Gary C Thomas - Global Minstrels -2006 Page 160- "As a result, the arrival of Kalman Balogh's Gypsy Cimbalom Band on the world music scene offered not only some excellent music, but also an overdue corrective. “In every style it is the same,” Balogh agrees. “Like the classical musicians like ..."
  3. ↑ "Management of Hungarian artists". Retrieved 2012-01-25.
  4. ↑ "Biography of Kalman Balogh". 1999-08-24. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
  5. ↑ "Kálmán Balogh and the Gypsy cimbalom band". Retrieved 2011-04-25.
  6. ↑ "Kalman Balogh & Peter Ralchev Balkan Project". Retrieved 2012-01-25.
  7. ↑ "Kálmán Balogh And The Gypsy Cimbalom Band Announce New Live Album and Tour". 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
  8. ↑ "Kalman Balogh, Master of the cimbalon". Retrieved 2012-01-25.
  9. ↑ "Traditional crossroads audiophile recordings". Retrieved 2011-01-25.
  10. ↑ Vidor Fesztivál 2009
  11. ↑ Duna Televízió 2007-08-31 21:00 (59')
  12. ↑ Balogh Kálmáné és a Pál család zenekaráé a Bezerédj-díj Kultúra.hu 2009.11.12

External links