Experience the Fusion of Tradition and Modernity: Tony Lakatos’ Jazz Tour in 5 Cities

Tony Lakatos, the Hungarian saxophonist widely regarded as a leading voice in European jazz, will perform in Daegu with drummer Kim Min-chan’s trio. The “Kim Min-chan Trio with Tony Lakatos” concert opens Friday the 22nd at Various Jazz Club in Daegu and launches a five-city tour that will also stop in Gongju, Cheongju, Gunsan and Seoul.

Lakatos, a tenor saxophonist who won the Hessian Jazz Prize in 2020—one of Germany’s most prestigious honors—is celebrated for his mastery of Europe’s straight-ahead hard-bop and post-bop traditions. With a deep, resonant tone and a compelling sense of swing, he drew acclaim from Korean audiences during a visit three years ago.

The project was conceived by New York–based drummer Kim Min-chan. He’ll be joined by longtime collaborator and bassist Kim Dae-ho, along with Ilan Eizensberg, a rising guitarist on the New York jazz scene, to present a sound that marries hard-bop tradition with contemporary New York sensibilities.

Last year, Lakatos and Kim appeared together at the Seoul–Budapest Korea–Hungary Jazz Festival, where their jazz reinterpretations of pieces such as “Arirang” and “Monggeumpo Taryeong” met with enthusiastic responses.

The tour begins in Daegu, moves on to Gongju, Cheongju and Gunsan, and concludes Sunday the 31st with a final performance at CJ Azit Gwangheungchang in Seoul.