Kerekes Band

Lead by virtuoso flautist Zsombor Fehér playing a Shepherd’s Flute and backed by a modified Viola (The viola's bridge is flattened to allow all the three strings to be played in unison) Bass, Drums and Koboz (a short-necked Lute of Middle Eastern origin). Kerekes play what we now know as "Magyar Funk". A lively, eclectic, jazz-funky and dance friendly interpretation of traditional tunes from their local Hungarian roots. An interpretation that is as equally accessible to a rock, jazz, roots or world music fan, of any age.
Kerekes Band originally played traditional roots and folk music from Gyimes & Moldova and spent many of their early years playing and studying with the masters of Hungarian traditional music, especially Viktor & János Timár from Gyimes, with whom they learnt and collected over 250 folk- tunes, and with whom they learnt the craft of making music for dance. Kerekes craftsmanship and dedication earned them the title of "Young Masters of Folk Art", an award given to them by the Ministry of National Cultural Heritage in Hungary in 1998.

Exposed to the many different contemporary music styles now audible from around the world Kerekes took it upon themselves to announce to the world that music from Hungary can also be funky. Inspired by Folk tunes from the distant past, handed down through generations, Kerekes new CD absorbs jazz, roots, funk and even drum & bass on its journey, its haunting melodies counterpoint to its rock –n-roll attitude. If Hendrix or Coltrane played the simple shepherd’s flute, he’d play it like this.