I play on things—sometimes without knowing what they’ll be or how they’ll sound. I play with time. I love playing on boxes but don’t like being put into them. I believe in democracy and thrive on conversation. I doubt that everything can be explained in 15 seconds, and I’m certain that the world’s beautiful complexity can’t be reduced to one-sentence truths. I’m endlessly inspired by the diversity and brilliance of what humankind has created. Stereotypes frustrate me. I’m deeply grateful for the profound human and musical connections I make. And I have a special bond with two cities: Budapest, where I was born, and Vienna, the city I chose to call home.

 

András Dés 

Percussionist, Composer, Educator

Born in 1978, Budapest / Based in Vienna since 2018

Education

• Graduated from the Jazz Faculty of the Ferenc Liszt Music Academy in 2005.

As a Performer

• Contributed to more than 100 albums.

• Member of several successful bands, including Hannah James Jigdoll Ensemble, Golnar Shahyar Quintet, Mitsoura, Basma Jabr Furat Ensemble, Efrat Alony trio, J.D.Hive, Bea Palya Quintet, Ági Szalóki Quintet, Kaltenecker Trio, Gábor Winand Quartet, Miklós Lukács Quintet, Zoltán Lantos Mirrorworld, Mihály Borbély Polygon, Elemér Balázs Group, László Dés Septet.

• Collaborated as a soloist with Péter Eötvös in his works Music for New York and Snatches of a Conversation.

• Worked with international musicians like Palle Mikkelborg, Frank London, Charlie Mariano, Theodossii Spassov, Randy Brecker, Jack DeJohnette, Gerard Presencer, Iain Ballamy, Huw Warren, Eivind Aarset, Dave Liebman, Eric Truffaz, Wolfgang Muthspiel, Chris Potter, Dan Berglund, Grzegorz Karnas, Aga Zaryan, Leila Martial, Sokrates Sinopoulos, Alim Qasimov, Alireza Ghorbani, Elchin Shirinov, Cenk Erdogan

• Has performed at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, Covent Garden, Damascus Opera House, Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Cairo Jazz Festival, Jerusalem Theater, Shanghai Expo.

• Founder and leader of the Jazz Playground kids’ program.

• Founder and leader of the Konzervnyitó Akciócsoport initiative, organizing over 30 events with prominent figures of Hungarian culture, where the team composed music inspired by the themes of each guest.

• Artisjus Prize for Performers (2010)

• Recognized multiple times as “Percussionist of the Year” by Hungary’s leading jazz platforms, jazz.hu and jazzma.hu.

• His quartet’s album, Unimportant Things was selected as the Album of the year 2024 by the editors of jazzma.hu.

• Curatorial weekend at the House of Music in Budapest, focusing on two major events: an Austro-Hungarian jazz concert and the Jazz Labyrinth, a theatrical-musical adventure around the house.

As a Composer

Albums (as a bandleader):

• András Dés Quartet: Unimportant Things (2024, BMC)

• András Dés Rangers: einschließlich (2020, BMC)

• András Dés Trio: The Worst Singer in the World (2017, BMC)

• András Dés Quartet ’13: Tourist No. 1 (2014, Hunnia Records)

• András Dés Trio: Unquiet Stillness (2009, X-Produkció)

Theatrical and Film Works:

• Farkasszem (“Unblinking”), Solo Theater Performance, dir. Csaba Horváth (2014, Szkéné Theatre, Budapest)

• Das Große Heft (2024, Odeon Theatre, Vienna, dir. Jacqueline Kornmüller)

• Sosevolt Cirkusz (2021, Szigligeti Színház-Oradea, dir. Bartal Kiss Rita)

• Bibedombi szörnyhatározó (2020, Napsugár Bábszínház, dir. Halasi Dániel)

• Ecki, Becki, Tengerecki (2019, Griff Bábszínház, dir. Kovács Petra)

• Kelekótya Haramiák (2019, Ziránó Színház, dir. Veres András)

• Kivagy János (2017, Csodamalom Bábszínház, dir. Varga Péter)

• Szerelmükből születtem én (2013, Mesebolt Bábszínház, dir. Khaled-Abdo Szaida)

• Borsószem és a többiek (2012, Budaörsi Játékszín, dir. Kárpáti István)

Extraordinary Compositions:

• BookMusic (Composed for the sculpture by András Böröcz)

• Mrs. Wolf’s Dream (Composed for the Paper Art of Robbin Ami Silverberg)

• EP70 (A piece for a book in memory of Péter Esterházy)

• Performance in the Ganymed Bridge Project at the Naturhistorisches Museum Wien, Primatensaal.

• Arrangement of John Cage’s Living Room Music commissioned by the House of Music Budapest.

Teaching and Educational Activities:

• Lecturer, University of Theater and Film, Budapest: Conducted workshops and courses on rhythm, improvisation, innovative percussion techniques, and body percussion.

• Primary School Lecturer, Budapest: Introduced music and creative percussion to younger students, fostering an early appreciation for rhythm and improvisation.

• Conducted numerous workshops worldwide for professionals and amateurs, focusing on rhythm, improvisation, body percussion, and innovative uses of percussion instruments.