Artist database

Gábor Gadó started his musical studies on the violin, then switched to the classical guitar. He graduated in 1983 from the Jazz Department of the Béla Bartók Music Conservatory as a student of Gyula Babos, following which he featured in the bands of the vanguard of Hungarian jazz musicians. Amongst his first partners were Róbert Rátonyi Jr, Ferenc Snétberger, Attila László, Béla Szakcsi Lakatos, Elemér Balázs and Kálmán Oláh. Later he appeared more and more frequently in international line-ups, for example alongside Gerald Veasley, Randy Roos and George Jinda.

The first band he organised was called Joy, and recorded an album entitled Cross cultures. In 1991 he released Special time, the first album under his own name, then toured Europe with Nikola Parov. In 1995 he moved to France, then briefly lived in London too. After five years the Gábor Gadó Quartet was formed in Paris: Matthieu Donarier (tenor saxophone), Sébastien Boisseau (double bass), Joe Quitzke (drums).

He first played with his French partners on the album Greetings from the angel, which was followed by Homeward and the outstandingly successful Orthodoxia.
Gábor Winand�s album Corners of my mind, composed by Gábor Gadó, was chosen by the French magazine Jazzman as one of the best albums of the year in 2002.

In 2003 his achievements earnt him the Bobby Jaspar prize, awarded by the French L�Academie du Jazz each year to the European jazz musician of the year � the highest international recognition of his work to date. He is a sought-after guest at French and international festivals and clubs, and has performed at the following places: Festival de Châteauroux, Festival de Jazz de Montlouis/Loire, Rencontres internationales de Jazz de Nevers, Festival Crest Jazz Vocal, Festival de l�Hotel d�Albret (Paris), Tete Montoliu Jazz Festival (Barcelona), Festival de Jazz de Souillac, Festival de Jazz de Vitrolles, Fete de la musique de Téhéran, Mittel Europa Jazz Festival de Schiltingheim and the Paris Jazz Festival.