Laszlo Gardony

Pianist Laszlo Gardony thinks he began playing the piano at around age three, and he began taking formal lessons at age seven. A rising jazz star in his native Hungary, he earned a degree from the Bela Bartok Conservatory and recorded one album before hearing about Berklee College of Music in Boston. Written correspondence led to a partial scholarship, but a visit to Boston in 1983 – and a knock on the school’s door – led to a full one, which included housing. Now, with nine more albums under his belt as bandleader, he’s a piano professor as his alma mater.

Though Gardony has worked with jazz masters including Dave Holland, Miroslav Vitous, David Fathead Newman and Bob Moses, he’s become best known for the trio he formed with bassist John Lockwood and drummer Yoron Israel and has referred to playing with them as “almost telepathic.” A prolific composer, his albums and live shows are filled with originals but he’s always left room for covers of popular songs that have moved him and provided ground for improvisation, from “Satin Doll” and “Caravan” to The Beatles‘ “Lady Madonna” and “Eleanor Rigby.”

Speaking about his choice of those Lennon-McCartney numbers, he noted his admiration for the Fab Four in general. “It’s always enjoyable to play them and they always fit in with my original ideas,” he said. “I love The Beatles and this is a wonderful way to connect those tunes to some African and gospel elements that they already drew upon, but I could give it a different angle.” Regarding his decision to play mostly with his trio, he said he prefers the intimacy of such a small combo, “You can really be there in the moment with three people. If it’s working, it’s the best possible thing,” he said. “If it’s not then you wish you had a big band.”

(by Ed Symkus)