On a quest for global grooves of unity, Àbáse is the imagination of Hungarian producer and multi-instrumentalist Szabolcs Bognar. Creating an exquisite blend of West African, Brazilian, hip-hop, new-soul and jazz music, he is set to release new single ‘Agangatolú’ on the 23rd June via Oshu Records and is the first track to be taken from his debut album ‘Laroyê’, released later this year.
Having already gained support from the likes of BBC Radio 6 Music’s Gilles Peterson, Worldwide FM, Stamp The Wax, Earmilk, Complex, Soulection, Nabihah Iqbal and KEXP, Bognar released his long anticipated debut EP ‘Invocation’ in 2019 via HHV Records and Cosmic Compositions and earlier this year, released the critically acclaimed ‘Body Mind Spirit’ EP, a collaborative electronic exploration with drummer/producer Ziggy Zeitgeist.
The word “àbáse” comes from the West African Yoruba language and stands for “collaboration” – a key element of Àbáse’s music, as he brings together versatile artists from around the world to push genre and style boundaries. New single ‘Agangatolú’ is no exception and features musicians Bognar collaborated with on travels around Brazil including singer and percussionist Jadson Xabla, IFA Afrobeat drummer Jorge Dubman aka ‘Dr Drumah’, vibraphonist Antonio Loureiro and Hungarian flutist and saxophonist Fanni Zahár.
The song is based on a traditional Candomblé song for the Orisha (deity) Oshosi; the spirit associated with the hunt, forests, animals and wealth. “Agangatolú is the song that probably represents the album best because it brings the beauty of the afro-brazilian culture to the forefront while mixing it with contemporary elements and a bass heavy sound. It’s also a beautiful example of the intricate collaboration process that is at the core of the project: the base of the composition was a result of me researching traditional songs and rhythms from Bahia.”
We were instantly gripped upon hearing the work of Hungarian jazz collaborative project Àbáse” Stamp The Wax
“Cinematic harmonies over a rollicking rhythm section” Earmilk
“Impressive technical prowess without ever straying close to pretension” Complex
The core of the ‘Laroyê’ album was recorded in Rio de Janeiro and Salvador where Àbáse spent five months working with diverse artists, from young talents to veterans of the Brazilian scene. Mainly recorded with a Zoom recorder in tiny apartments rather than the usual big studio set-up, the album serves as an audio diary of a travelling musician, exploring the rich heritage of afro-brasilian culture through samba, MPB and Candomblé. Mixing these with contemporary production techniques, broken beat, hip hop and afrobeat, ‘Laroyê’ is a contemporary homage to the classic Brazilian sound.
Bognár has been active in the electic music scene of Budapest for many years and has spearheaded may several successful acts, including Solqlap Budapest and the The Mabon Dawud Republic, a fourteen piece afrobeat orchestra hosting Felabration Budapest and guest-starring the likes of Dele Sosimi and Pat Thomas. After residencies in Paris, Lyon, New York, Rio De Janeiro and Salvador, Àbáse is now based in Berlin, where in addition to his solo career, he is also the keyboard player for Nigerian soul singer Wayne Snow and Australian jazz drummer Ziggy Zeitgeist’s Freedom Energy Exchange.
