Kolinda - Kolinda I (1976)

Debut album by Kolinda, stunning ethno-jazz ensemble from Hungary (and a personal favourite of mine), produced by Hughes De Courson of the French folk group Malicorne.

«“They’re one of the most interesting European groups that I’ve heard”, says Gary Cristall, organizer of the Vancouver Folkfestival, “but they do it in a different way. Even though they were doing traditional stuff, it had a different edge to it. They’ve never been looked on very favourably in Hungary. They were always a little too far outside.”
Kolinda’s reputation for being outside comes from the way they mix elements of Hungarian and Balkan folksongs with a large amount of jazz, a bit of classical, and even a few notes of rock. Their music manages to melt the passion and urgency of gypsy music with the cerebral with of cool jazz, an exciting combination that makes them one of the most successful hybrids of folk and contemporary music around today. Kolinda first formed in 1974, and in the next four years they released three albums on the French Hexagone label. But in 1978 the group disbanded and the members went on to other projects. In 1984, the group got together for a reunion tour. They’ve been playing together ever since, and have recorded other fine albums.» (From the net)

The original line-up of the band was: Ferenc Kiss (violin), Péter Dabasi (tamboura, guitar, gadulka, vocals), Ágnes Zsigmondi (vocals, flute), Iván Lantos (vocals, bass, percussion, flute, bagpipes), András Széll (vocals, violin), Dóra Kovács (vocals, violin, flute).

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