alisonboston.com

One of the things I enjoy most about Budapest and Hungary is the music. I think the country’s geographic location lends itself to a natural fusion of ethnic influences creating a unique Magyr sound.

The world music quartet Ektar is no exception.

I stumbled on them almost by accident, and that is another magical element of life in Hungary. I went out specifically to hear the Vaci Daniel Trio last Thursday evening on the a38 concert boat, and after a brief warm up concert from them, was treated to the ethereal, yet contemplative sounds of Ektar.

Comprised of Róbert Benkő on double bass, Dániel Kardos on acoustic 6 string guitar, Szabolcs Szőke on gadulka, kalimba, and ektar and Evelin Tóth on vocals, kalimba, and ektar it is this combination of instruments delivering the chamber style compositions of Szőke that draws the listener into their dreamscape.

When Szőke plays the gadulka I hear something of Zoltan Lantos’ tarangini*. This Bulgarian instrument has eleven resonating and three playable strings. The musician stands it on end in his/her lap and draws a bow across the strings, the resulting sound is like an earthy viola. (You can view pictures of, and read more about these instruments on their web page.)

The group has two CDs, the latter Dove Song recorded in November 2004. Listening to it, I am struck by how much Tóth’s voice has developed since this recording. In concert on the a38, she was using deep, bass resonators drawing the listener into a dark, mysterious cave.

Ektar plays their next concert at the Merlin Theater in February.
Meanwhile, you can see Szőke and Tóth in Szőke’s collective theater group Hólyagcirkusz at Studio K Theater, Mátyás ut. 9, IXBp, next Saturday, January 29.

*See 01. November, 2004 Twenty-one string violin opens up new world of music for more info about Zoltan’s tarangini.