István Gyárfás - Gyárfás Trio

István Gyárfás, alias Gyafi, was born in Budapest. He initially learned to play violin, then took an interest in guitar playing in secondary school. He appeared in the 1983 “Ki mit tud” talent show and due to his popularity on this television programme he decided to embark on a career in music. He was admitted to the Jazz Faculty of Bartók Béla Music Vocational School, which offered the highest education in jazz at the time, employing the best jazz musicians in the country as teachers. His main instrument was jazz guitar and he also studied orchestration and improvisation. He has the opportunity to experience playing in a combo as well as a big band. He graduated with distinction in 1897 as a music teacher and performer. He founded his own trio at this time, and it has been working ever since. He also played duets with singers and participated in other formations. His first serious invitations included the most prestigious local jazz festivals, for example the Debrecen Jazz Days and the Szeged And Nagykanizsa Jazz Festival. His ensemble was also very popular in Czechoslovakia and the Wronclaw jazz Festival. He was homoured to receive invitations from renowned Hungarian jazz musicians to play solo in their ensembles, and he now counts them as friends. He completed his studies at the jazz faculty of the Teacher Training Institute of Liszt Ferenc Music University of Budapest and received his jazz guitar performer and teacher degree with honours in 2001. By this time he had several recordings, the first one, titled “Captive Dreamer” was released in 1989 by Hungaropop (with singer Gábor Winand, double bass player Viktor Hárs and drummer János Sramkó). In the meantime he performed and taught masterclasses with almost all renowned Hungarian musicians and several American stars. He is a regular performer at local events and often receives invitations to play abroad.

He often gives concerts in the capital as well as rural clubs and festivals, such as the Lamantin Jazz Festival in Szombathely, the Louis Armstrong Jazz Festival in Bánk, the Kapolcs Art Festival and the annual New Orleans Festival in the Art Palace of Budapest. He performed in several countries, he gave concerts in Great Britain, Finland, Syria, Israel (Yafo Jazz Festival), Indonesia (Surabaya, Bandung and Jakarta Jazz Festival). He toured twice in Kenya, performing at the Nairobi National Theatre. He visited Mombasa and the legendary Masai Mara too.

He plays on over forty Hungarian albums, he released seven under his own name, including one titled “Midnight in Pest” in the USA, on which the esteemed American tenor sax player Big “Red” Ron plays solo. Gyárfás István is listed in several German,Romanian and Slovakian releases (Bega Blues Band, Pacora Trio, Walter Kurowsky Jazz Band).

His trio first released a record in 1996, titled “Live at the Jazz Café” (with double bass player Péter Czakó and drummer György Jeszenszky), which contains the unforgettable moments of the concerts held at the now closed club in Budapest. It was folloved by „In Between” (2001, with singer Beáta Munkácsi and trumpet player Gábor Virágh), then „Tale” (2003), and in 2005 they released „Nairobi Romance” which contains their own compositions inspired by their African experiences.

“The Old Amsterdam Album” released in 2006 is primilary dutch inspired based on his own compositions, typically mainstream jazz style. Renowned singers and musicians frequently join the trio in these records (Csaba Deseő violin, Júli Fábian voice, István Fekete trumpet, István Regős piano, saxofon, Béla Szalóky trumpet, Csaba Tűzkő saxofon.

István Gyárfás in the past few years has been performing such a well-known amercian stars for example: George Duke, Peter Erskine, Scott Hamilton, Reggie Johnson, Herbie Mann, Joe Murányi, Ken Peplowsky, Chris Potter, Ed Thigpen, Alvin Queen, Warren Vaché and Jimmy Woode.

He was awarded the title of „guitarist of the year” in 2013 then 2014, 2015, 2016 too. He won the editorial awards too and in 2016 he was awarded Szabó Gábor lifetime achievement award. According to the latest survey of jazz.ma he is the best solo jazz guitarist of the country.

As well as an active musician and composer he is also leader of several formations such as: „Quartessence”, „Gyafi and Friends”, „BPA Gospel Team”. He played in the prominent Budapest Jazz Orchestra 4 years as a soloist too. In the past 30 years he has been elevating the standard of performances with his professional skills and personality. He was also a member of the Board of directors of the Hungarian Jazz Association. He launched and entired generation of jazz guitarist.

Presently they are working on the new album Gyárfás-Premecz Organ Trio titled „Organ Grinder’s Suite” which features 10 chapter compositions for Hammond organ-guitar-drum trió. An album titled „Moderns Psalms” is also currently being produced.

In 2017 February they released their new Cartoon Jazz album which features the soundtracks of legendary hungarian cartoons in swing latin and New Orleaans, Mardi Gras jazz style. Cartoons: Macskafogó, Frakk, Mirr-Murr, Nagy ho-ho-horgász, Kukori és Kotkoda, Dr. Bubó”, Vizipók-csodapók, Vuk és társai. The Trio is currently touring with their latest album.