KADA

My favourite band out of Hungary right here. KADA's debut remains one of my favourite Jazz related albums. That was from 1999 while this double live recording was released in 2001 with the actual live dates it was taken from taking place in August, September and November of 2000. A seven piece here with two percussionists, guitar, bass and three horn players. Man this band loves to improvize and play experimental music. The guitarist does bring David Torn to mind with his soundscapes and style. If I was reviewing disc one only it would be a solid 4 stars but man that second disc is like Free Jazz throughout and so hard for me to digest bringing this overall to a 3 star recording unfortunately. Disc one is over 56 minutes while that daunting disc two is almost 68 minutes. So much to like on disc one and I'm surprised that this is live at times because it can be so sparse and slow going and then bang they hit us with authority. Great musicians here all around and I might keep this one around because of that incredible first disc.

4.5 stars. KADA are one of many excellent bands that have come from Hungary over the years. These guys might be my favourite though. Jazz for sure but think KING CRIMSON with the way this band like to improvise plus they have that heavy sound with plenty and I mean plenty of atmosphere. The guitarist uses effects plus we get three horn players adding sax, trombone and trumpet. Two percussionists plus a drummer and bass player. What no keyboards? And this one is a live recording of tracks from between 2001 and 2003 and none from the same concert.

Take away that opener and I'm giving this 5 stars. "Tokan" the first song is so different from the rest. It's more normal and it's relaxed and at a slow pace. Just not what you would expect to start off a live album or a concert for that matter if this had been one. "Ambientry" is the longest track at over 12 minutes and it has it's moments but honestly it's the final five tunes that I just can't believe were played in a live setting. I could just imagine some poor soul on LSD running for the exit. "Jam In The Droid Coffee" turns quite powerful 2 minutes in after drowning us in atmosphere. An unreal sound here with the horns and everything else.

"GOD, Devil And Superman" again begins with atmosphere and picked guitar this time with some percussion and horns. Bass and drums as it builds and the tempo picks up. Just killing it after 4 minutes. I like the guitar around 5 minutes and it's crying out around 7 minutes. An experimental ending. "Dragon Skeleton" opens with what sounds like electronics and atmosphere as drums kick in with some punch then guitar. Just so inventive and a horn joins in as the electronics and beats continue.

"Folk Song" opens with spacey atmosphere and distant sounds coming and going and soon the atmosphere is howling but then it fades as drums and alto sax take over but it's surprisingly brief as the heavy atmosphere returns. Two horns and drums after 3 minutes before the soprano sax leads around 5 1/2 minutes in. "Blues For Gabor" might be my favourite for how intense and insane it gets after 6 minutes. Just so much going on and even more so 7 minutes in before it winds down to the end.

Great headphone album as well on those final five tracks. What a band!

Jazz-Rock band Kada came from Hungary and had been around since the early-90's.During the first years they experimented by combining their jazzy attitude with singing lines, however they ended up to perform as an all-instrumental group.In 1999 a self-titled CD debut sees the light on Periferic Records with Kada performing as a six-piece group with drummer Gergely Ballay, bassist Attila Boros, Gergely Katona and Gabor Kollmann on horns and wind instruments, Gyozo Mogyoro on percussion and Lazlo Valik on guitars.

The problem with ''Kada'' is actually the same dominating several Jazz-Rock bands and their albums.The listener can find a hell of a talent and plenty of interesting ideas on the individual performances: Some deep bass playing, some decent sax and trumpet parts, a heavy KING CRIMSON-edged style of guitar playing.But when it comes to the arrangements the whole thing falls short.Semi-improvised Jazz-Rock with a very noisy approach, which turns from Avant- Garde/RIO fields to KING CRIMSON-like Heavy Prog to free Jazz in a blink of an eye.And when you are about to get hooked with a section it is severely spoiled by another one following.The album contains some good grooves with decent rhythmic parts and the bass performance of Boros really shines through.Even the trumpet passages, especially the more atmospheric ones, hold some interest.But the album is very much driven by the more improvisational parts with no destination at all, the abstract overall delivery and series of monotonic passages, where the listener desperately seeks from something to grab from.Not to mention tha the album is rather too long and the ideas too much stretched.

These guys should have really come up with a better album regarding the talent detected throughout the album.But this work maybe fun to watch live but it is not for every day listening.Strictly recommended to Avant/Jazz-Rock fans.

Debut of really obscure Hungarian jazz fusion band. Excellent guitar-based instrumental improvised music in a tradition of David Thorn, mixing it with slightly psychedelic sound, Frippian (King Crimson version) aesthetics and even slight avant flavour.

Music is very atmospheric, complex and very precisely played. Classic power trio is supported by two reeds musicians and percussionist, what made music more orchestrated, but still very graphic in sound. As many Hungarian bands, musicians use some folklore traditions in tunes, but very ascetic and tastefully.

Really great album, it's a pity that even if it's coming from late 90-s, it's virtually impossible to find it to listen. Even more pity such a great band is almost unknown outside of their home- country. Very recommended, if you will success to find this release! One of great jazz fusion release from the end of XX century!

My rating is 4+.

4.5 stars. This is the best album I have heard from Hungary so far. Heavy fusion that is often led by the bass and drums, with lots of guitar and horns as well. Trumpet, sax, trombone and flugelhorn are the horns that are played while there are no keyboards of any kind. This brought modern KING CRIMSON music to mind several times, I mean this is dark and heavy just the way I like it. There are lots of horn sections usually with drums pounding, as well as some dissonant and spacey passages. It was difficult to find any info about this band at all, and I can't remember what moved me to buy this other then it may have been the only review i've seen which is on this site by Prognut. He obviously is as overjoyed as I am about this record.

Things start off with the very short and experimental track called "Chinvat I", at 22 seconds in length it serves as an intro to "Chinvat II". Pounding drums to open as horns come in blasting. Guitar and bass a minute in as horns continue. Angular and dissonant melodies follow. This is fantastic ! These guys must be fans of Rio-Avant music as well. This goes on and on until after 6 minutes ! Then we get an actual horn melody as drums and bass accompany to end it. Incredible song ! "Gates" opens with lots of atmosphere as different sounds come and go until 2 1/2 minutes in when we get a reserved melody of guitar, drums and chunky bass. It's building slowly. Before 6 minutes it becomes aggressive for the next 3 minutes. Nice. It calms right down 9 minutes in as bass then guitar and drums come in to end it. "Skin And Mud" is spacey to begin with as deep bass sounds and drums come in. Dark and heavy. Horns and guitar join in the heavy soundscape after a minute. Lazlo peels off some raw sounding guitar solos until we get some mournful guitar that reminds me of parts of "Xanadu" by RUSH 3 1/2 minutes in. Nice gentle horn melody after 6 minutes. The beat stops 7 1/2 minutes in but not for long. When it returns we get dissonant horns before some horn melodies come and go. Chunky bass after 11 minutes as the sound builds until the sax is screaming.

"Kada" opens quietly enough but the random sounds are building. The drumming is amazing and the bass is deep. No melody really until the horns come in around 2 minutes. Great sound.The horns leave 4 minutes in as bass and drums carry on, but check out the guitar a minute later that plays on and on for almost 2 minutes ! He stops but comes back quickly with more guitar, just not as emotional this time. Horns are back 10 1/2 minutes in. "Seeker" opens with horns as tempo starts to pick up. There is a real swinging horn section 2 1/2 minutes in followed by some guitar and horn sounds with no melody. Sax and bass then lead the way as they build until some angular guitar 7 1/2 minutes in. The swinging horn section is back 9 minutes in until the song ends with the sounds of birds and water.

I enjoyed the album so much. These guys really deserve to be more well known then they are. This is essential.

Amazing discovery! Hungarian band that combine RIO, Jazz, Fusion, World Music and Eastern touches, with also some rock influences!!!!

This album is pretty much in the same line of their first one, which is probably the recommended to start with. This is a little more complex, but a tad more! They go here with 2 Saxes, which expand their sound quite a bit; but overall these guys appears to be playing together for a long time, I think! structured and improvisations are the order of the day in this release, and the greatest attribute is IMHO that you can not pinpoint any particular influence, in other word their sound is rather unique.

Cannot believe I missed this band for over 5 years!!!

The package is outstanding, it comes on a sore of digipack with a fold shiny carton and the CDs in the middle, this is as good package as progressive album it can be!

Sean, if you happen to read this review I would like to know your opinion! Greg W. may still have some copies!!

4 and1/2 stars actually!! And their best so far... Not strictly fusion in the full sense. I do believe mostly of the album is indeed very well structured, but IMHO there are plenty of inprov and experimentation. Quite refreshing really! I personally after going 1 full spin, I am not tired and want more.

Bass line is a la Wetton/Levin, they do have a strong drum and sax players and for most of the longest tracks, is like combining some Zappa and Soft machine, jamming together. They however, have also a touch of Crimsonian personality (Mid-period?...) Not a rip off band by any extends of the imagination!!

So, maybe a combination of Fusion/RIO approach. There are solos for everybody, but not over killed, plenty of horn and sax and some of the best passages are driven by guitar (sometimes ala Fripp..). Released in 1999, but if somebody had asked me without knowing, I would have put them in the mid-late 70's, very impressive!! Specially considering where ther are originally from!

One of the best discoveries for me during this past year! This goes to show you, that no matter how much up to date in Progressive music you are, still there are gems to be revealed. Now, for new fans. this is aquired taste, so will need several spins to sink inn...; for progheads and alike, give KADA a try! You will not get disappoint.