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 was born in Budapest and now lives in Vienna. He considers himself mainly as a jazz musician, but his openness to diverse forms of expression is reflected in his genre-crossing work: he has collaborated extensively with folk musicians, explored contemporary classical music, and enjoys performing with writers and poets. His innovative approach to combining percussion and drumming techniques has led to collaborations with numerous internationally renowned artists, including jazz legends and masters of some of the world’s most beautiful folk traditions. He has participated in over 100 recordings, five of them as bandleader. His affinity for theater is evident in his compositions for numerous stage productions and films. As an educator, he regularly gives workshops and master classes in improvisation and percussion for students as well as children.