Jazzy Festival - Energetic jamming fills a modern Buda auditorium during this concert series highlighting world-famous contemporary bands. Britain’s acid-jazz maestros of Incognito get funky on the festival’s first night, followed by nu jazz laced with Brazilian beats from Germany’s swinging Club des Belugas quartet. October 18-19, 8pm each night: MOM Cultural Center.

Tickets

Jazz Nightspots
Enjoy fine eats and hot beats at Budapest’s most popular clubs offering live jazz shows along with delicious meals, all presented amid distinctive settings.

Columbus Jazz Club  - This musical pleasure boat is permanently docked on the Pest bank, where numerous Hungarian groovers come aboard to perform before a backdrop of stunning riverscape vistas.

If Kávézó - An artistic vibe envelops guests at this intimate hangout on hip Ráday Street, with contemporary paintings on the walls and creative players jamming in varied styles almost nightly. 

Ladó Café - Among many notable groups gracing the stage at this classic city-center cabaret serving dinners of traditional Hungarian cuisine, the Hot Jazz Band appears every Wednesday at 8pm.

Mezzo -  Modern style and Art Deco aesthetics surround diners at this tasteful music restaurant in downtown Buda, where up-and-coming talents of the local jazz scene enliven romantic evenings.

Opus Jazz Club -  As a newcomer to Budapest’s nightlife, this welcoming hotspot provides affordable dishes (including gourmet burgers) while staging frequent concerts by international musicians. 

“Lifelover” - October 3, 7:30pm – Palace of Arts

Listen to heartfelt tunes from a new album of sensuous sounds by the Hungarian jazz duo formed by darling songbird Veronika Harcsa and guitarist Bálint Gyémánt - pictured above -  performing in a massive concert hall.

Flat Earth Society - October 7, 7:30pm – A38 Ship

This outré Belgian outfit for experimental big-band tunes rocks the boat with intriguing cacophonies of blasting horns and hard-driving guitar rhythms, enlivened by jags of accordion and vibraphone.

Trace Bundy - October 7, 8pm – Budapest Jazz Club

Using his unique finger-tapping style of guitar-picking mastery featuring looping and multiple capos, America’s “Acoustic Ninja” plays incredibly intricate instrumental melodies with a bluesy touch.

“Sinatra And Friends” - October 11, 9pm – Orfeum

Feel that ring-a-ding-ding thing when Magyar showman Gábriel Gábor Farkas sings swingin’ hits by the Chairman of the Board and his Rat Pack cohorts, staged amid a deluxe lounge with dinner available.

John Abercrombie Quartet - October 15, 8pm – Budapest Jazz Club

As a post-bop pioneer who performed with scores of musical greats over the past four decades, avant-garde American guitarist John Abercrombie constantly experiments with the future of progressive jazz.

Mike Stern Band - October 16, 8pm – Budapest Jazz Club

Living-legend jazz guitarist Mike Stern – a veteran of Blood, Sweat & Tears and bandmate with Miles Davis – returns to Budapest with bassist Tom Kennedy, drummer Keith Carlock, and sax man Bob Malach.

Maria Baptist - October 19, 7pm – Átrium Theater

Hear the spirited piano artistry of unconventional German composer and professor Maria Baptist as she performs contemporary big-band music with the Budapest Jazz Orchestra in a recently renovated venue.

Kenny Garrett Quintet  - October 22 and 23, 8pm each night – Budapest Jazz Club
Grammy-winning jazz-fusion bandleader Kenny Garrett plays improvisational saxophone rhythms along with songs from his newly released album “Seeds from the Underground” in back-to-back Budapest concerts.

“Mi Padre” - October 24, 7:30pm – Palace of Arts

Dozens of impressive Magyar musicians share the stage for this memorial concert honoring internationally renowned jazz drummer Vilmos Jávori (1945-2007), all brought together by his composer son Dávid.

“Arabesque” - October 29, 8pm – Palace of Arts

Alluring Hungarian singer-songwriter Eszter Váczi leads her quartet in a performance with Tunesian oud lutist Hamdi Makhlouf, creating an entrancing fusion of authentic Arabic music and modern jazz.

Benkó Dixieland Band - October 30, 6pm – Benkó Dixieland Club

Since 1957, this globe-trotting Magyar ensemble plays classic melodies of old-time New Orleans along with unpredictable arrangements of varied music styles – hear them live at the group’s own cabaret.

“Simply Swing!” - October 31, 9pm – Orfeum

Sultry Hungarian songstress Adél Csobot takes guests back in time with a passionate revue featuring exuberant renditions of jazz standards from the 1930s and ’40s to today, accompanied by a live band.

Courtesy Of Where Budapest Magazine