Gabor Szabo

Born in Budapest in 1936, Gábor Szabó is a guitarist becoming a pioneer in mixing the traditional folk music of his home country with elements of jazz and rock stylings. Inspired to play the guitar at an early age by a Roy Rogers cowboy movie, Szabó taught himself to play the instrument and performed in bars and clubs around Budapest, before fleeing to America prior to the Communist uprising. Szabó attended the renowned Berklee College of Music in 1958 and upon graduating in 1961, joined Chico Hamilton's quintet and asserted himself as one of the finest jazz guitarists around. After performing with the likes of Gary McFarland and Charles Lloyd, he pursued a solo career in 1966, keen for his own compositions to come to the fore. He released debut album 'Spellbinder' in 1966 which featured 'Gypsy Queen', later made famous by Carlos Santana in 1970. With the emergence of rock music and the guitar becoming more prominent throughout the decade, Szabó experimented further with feedback and fusions with Gypsy, Indian and experimental forms of jazz. Continuing to release music throughout his life, Gábor Szabó sadly passed away at the age of 45.

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