Kovács Ferenc „Öcsi” and Brasnyó Antal „Anti” (SRB, HUN)

Ferenc Kovács – violin, trumpet, singer Was born in 1957 in Budapest. His father was a sculptor awarded with Munkácsy Prize and his mother was a painter. He was one of the founders of Budapest Ragtime Band and had been its member for 15 years. He has been working with Balogh Kálmán Gipsy Cymbal Band since 1994. From the international stage he has already been playing with Balanescu, Steve Hackett, David Murray or Hamid Drake. According to Archie Shep Kovács is „one of the best violinists of the world , who is playing the trumpet like Miles Davis.” From his solo works probably the most significant was released in 2001, the Magony CD. The Magony Orchestra, which was founded to perform Kovacs’s same titled solo album is a unique Hungarian music formation. Its compositions are inspired by the Hungarian folk music, by jazz as well as contemporary music. He was actively contributing to the Djabe Orchestra’s very first album in 1996, later was its member and solist from 2001 until 2016. Not only his authentic way of playing the violin but also his characteristic voice adds to the Djabe’s unique Hungarian sounding.

Antal Brasnyó – viola player, folk musician. Was regularly playing at Félix Lajkó’s concerts, as well as Mihály Dresh’s bands. Nowadays, he has been working on his solo music career. Also known for making musical instruments.