Caspar Thorpe and Bence Babcsán wrote their first original composition, titled naphajlat, in the spring of 2024. As a result of this collaboration, they continued to work together as a duo: the backbone of their ever-expanding repertoire consists of original compositions and arrangements that draw on the soundscapes of Hungarian and Balkan folk music. Their musical world emphasises natural sound and a refined style of expression, paired with polished, focused instrumental playing. Capturing the essence of folk music, they sometimes create intimate atmospheres, while at other times they invite the audience to dance with rhythmic, light-hearted music. For this concert, they are joined by guests Tamás Smuk and Nikolas Mantzourakis, with whom they perform their favorite Bulgarian, Romanian, Armenian, Macedonian, Greek, and original melodies, spiced with plenty of improvisation. In addition to the instrumental melodies, Bori Magyar’s enchanting voice makes the program even more memorable.

Thu, Jul 2, 8:00 PM

Dezső Oláh Trio: Intermezzo (HU)

Opus Jazz Club / Ferencvaros / Map

“Have you ever felt that our life is just an intermezzo? We spend most of our time trying to achieve our goals and desires but on the way towards the destination, there are several stations. These stations are connected by intermezzos before we know how, when, why and with whom we will travel on. Can it be the time when we truly live? While standing at the crossroads, we have a chance to contemplate. To live the very moment. The end of the day always includes the possibility of the following day – just like Tuesday is hidden in Monday, then Wednesday in Tuesday… How to go on? The only thing we know is that there will never be two Wednesdays which are the same. Problems change but the journey doesn’t: forward! We just try to lead Monday into Tuesday, and so on…”, says Dezső Oláh about his trio programme Intermezzo.

Fri, Jul 3, 8:00 PM

SamSaRa | Lantos – Juhász – Nyusztay (HU)

Opus Jazz Club / Ferencvaros / Map

SamSaRa, the influential Hungarian world music ensemble of the turn of the millennium, takes the stage at Opus in a reimagined form. The group was founded in 2000 by two renowned and open-minded jazz musicians, Zoltán Lantos and Gábor Juhász, along with two outstanding Hungarian experts and players of Indian percussion instruments, Péter Szalai and Iván Nyusztay. Both Lantos and Nyusztay spent several years in India to master the techniques of playing classical Indian instruments and the authentic harmonic and rhythmic world of the local music. Drawing on his experiences, Lantos even had a special, resonant stringed violin custom-made for himself, which allows him to produce a rich sound that combines the advantages of two Indian instruments – the plucked sitar and the bowed sarangi – with those of the traditional violin. The trio plays Indo-jazz, that is, it brings elements and colors from Indian classical music into the world of jazz. This music has a spacious atmosphere, an airy quality, and an ancient fragrance, the influence of which is impossible to resist.

Sat, Jul 4, 8:00 PM

Károly Gáspár Trio (HU)

Opus Jazz Club / Ferencvaros / Map

Pianist and composer Károly Gáspár, who is celebrating his 50th birthday this year, is one of the best-known artists on the Hungarian jazz scene. To date, he has released six highly successful albums either with his trio or as a solo artist (The Outsider; Salvation; Philosophy; Tribute to Giants; Centuries Suite; Peace – Time), which mainly feature his own compositions alongside some jazz standards. Gáspár will now draw from his latest album, Peace – Time, while also performing unique arrangements of well-known jazz classics. Released in 2025, Peace – Time tastefully blends the stylistic elements and moods of classical music, jazz standards, and sophisticated pop songs under the theme of peace – both in the literal sense and as an inner state of mind –, also incorporating motifs from various folk music traditions. The album’s overall tone suggests a positive vision of the future, offering listeners a glimmer of hope even in difficult times.

BMC commemorates Béla Szakcsi Lakatos, who passed away in 2022, with a concert each year. He maintained a two-decade working relationship with BMC, enriching the catalogue of BMC Records with a total of 10 albums, covering a wide variety of musical styles. In keeping with the diversity of his career, different musicians and formations will perform at the commemorative concerts, including those who have played with Szakcsi for many years, as well as who have had little or no opportunity to accompany him on his musical adventures, but they all share a common spirit of creation that is close to the artistic world of the legendary jazz pianist. This concert will be a freely improvised encounter between four generations and four distinct musical perspectives, as each musician represents a different style from the broad and colorful spectrum of jazz. Béla Szakcsi Lakatos had planned to give a concert with this same lineup before the pandemic, but it had to be postponed due to lockdowns – and this upcoming reschedule will also serve as a fitting tribute.

Migrantes is a musical project by pianist, composer, and producer Andrea Manzoni and oud player and composer Mauro Sigura exploring migration as a universal experience of transformation, encounter, and memory. Through a sonic language that crosses cultures and traditions, the project weaves together Mediterranean influences, jazz improvisation, and contemporary research, offering an artistic reflection on the cultural and human dynamics of our time. Since its creation, the project has developed a significant international trajectory, with concerts and presentations in various European and international contexts, evolving as a space for dialogue between different musical identities. The album, released in 2025, represents the synthesis of this artistic research, bringing together original compositions that explore the themes of journey and intercultural exchange.

Fri, Jul 10, 8:00 PM

Salamon Tűzkő All Stars (HU)

Opus Jazz Club / Ferencvaros / Map

Salamon Tűzkő began playing the classical trumpet, but was soon captivated by jazz, the theory and practice of which he also learned from his father. His quintet won a special prize at the Müpa Jazz Showcase in 2022, and has been active on the Hungarian and international jazz scene ever since. For this concert, the young bandleader has gathered the country’s most sought-after and acclaimed musicians: Krisztián Csapó (trombone), Máté Balogh (saxophone), Béla Szakcsi Lakatos Jr. (piano), János Egri (double bass), and Elemér Balázs (drums), to pay tribute to the jazz tradition. Their program features iconic hard bop arrangements with three winds of compositions by Miles Davis and Art Blakey, as well as their original pieces.

Sat, Jul 11, 8:00 PM

Fusio Group feat. Erika Kertész: New Visions – album premiere (HU)

Opus Jazz Club / Ferencvaros / Map

At the end of 2025, the Fusio Group released its ninth album, New Visions, featuring Erika Kertész. The band, which has been active for over 30 years, was formed from the country’s leading artists. Their program consists of compositions by bandleader, drummer-composer Péter Szendőfi, whose musical world is closest to the fusion jazz genre and spans an extremely wide spectrum of moods and dynamics, ranging from lyrical, ballad-like, sensitive songs to energetic, virtuosic themes and grand instrumental solos. Since 2024, the band’s regular guest has been Erika Kertész, whose presence has given their work a new direction. The singer’s voice and performance style harmonize superbly with the instrumental pieces, while her collaboration also brings English-language lyrics to several previously instrumental tracks. As a result, the music on the new album is an intriguing and unique blend that promises an exceptionally diverse and varied soundscape.