According to the press Viktor Tóth (saxophone) is one of the most talented performers of the young Hungarian jazz generation. His album, Climbing with mountains, won the year’s best jazz album in 2007. He has performed with such notable musicians as Hamid Drake (drums), Henry Franklyn (bass), William Parker (bass), Mihály Dresch (saxophone) and has also played on numerous jazz festivals in Europe and the United States. In the meantime he is leading his own Trio, working together with a contemporary dance performer, recording folk music, composing music and always looking for new ways. Dynamism as well as sensitivity is typical for his saxophone playing while trying to capture the moment’s energies.
The members of the Viktor Tóth Trio:
György Jeszenszky – drums. Gaining his qualifications at the jazz department of the Béla Bartók Conservatory in 1987 – under the leadership of Gyula Kovács and Iván Nesztor – Jeszenszky has become on of the most frequently employed drummers in Hungary. Amongst many others he has performed with Tony Lakatos, Gábor Gadó, Csaba Deseő, István Regős and Károly Binder and is also featured drummer on numerous recordings. Nowadays, he is the member of the Equinox ensemble, the Ágnes Lakatos’ band and the various music bands of István Grencsó as well as featuring the István Gyárfás ensemble on drums.
Mátyás Szandai – bass. Getting his diploma at the Ferenc Liszt Music Academy in 2004 Szandai was the pupil of Gergely Járdányi. He has performed in various jazz ensembles since the age of 16 and in the last fifteen years Szandai has performed with the most notable Hungarian jazz musicians – he was the member of the Csaba Czirják Quartet, the Csaba Tűzkő Septet and the Elemér Balázs Group. Since 1996 he has been the member of the Mihály Dresch Quartet. Today being one of the most wanted bassists of the genre Szandai also plays in various other bands, such as the Kristóf Bacsó Quartet, the Viktor Tóth Trio, the Dániel Szabó Trio, the Kálmán Oláh Sextet and the András Dés Trio. Besides the many and great Hungarian musicians he has also had the opportunity to perform with notable foreign artists, such as Archie Shepp, David Murray, Herbie Mann, Chico Freeman, Rosario Giuliani, Charlie Mariano, Hamid Drake, William Parker, Rob Brown, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Gerard Presencer, Chris Potter, Flavio Boltro, Zbigniew Namislowski, among many others.
