Reel to Reel Review
Djabe & Steve Hackett, Freya – Arctic Jam 15ips 2 Track Tape.
Many readers in the UK will likely not have heard of Djabe (pronounced with a soft D), yet they have over 130 releases under their belt, including 17 studio albums and 26 live recordings across LP, CD, DVD-A and 2-track Tape (among others). The name roughly means “freedom” in African Ashanti, and that freedom is a thread that runs through the band’s body of works. As a band, they have been performing for around 30 years, with a large following and passionate fan base across in the main, from what I can ascertain, Central Europe; however, their reach extends globally, especially in the music festival scene, to those who have stumbled across them, been introduced to them or just have a nose for good music. I fall into the former, having first encountered them while perusing some open reel tapes on an online music store. It was becoming increasingly clear to me over the last 3 or 4 years that Djabe are hiding their light, somewhat, under a Hungarian bushel – and that if their music craftsmanship was being offered on tape, never mind high-quality vinyl and hi-res streaming services, there might be more to them than meets the eye (ear?).
I managed to catch up with founding member, manager and Guitarist Atilla Égerházi to find out more about this incredible group of musicians and their most recent release – Freya, Arctic Jam, which I am reviewing on 2 Track, 15ips Tape here.
Originally, Atilla started the band with András Sipos (percussion) as a quartet of guitar, bass guitar, percussion, vocal, and saxophone. Tamas Barabás (an Abbey Road renowned Sound engineer in his own right) joined the group as Bass player in 1997. In 2001, the Djabe line-up changed as the sax player left and a violin/trumpet soloist took over his role, and a keyboard player and drummer added too. The band occasionally worked with British saxophone player Ben Castle. Djabe have also won numerous domestic and international awards and recognitions from the Hungarian Music Award for Best Jazz / World Music Album of the Year (Witchi Tai To) to Surround Music Award nominee, Los Angeles for their Sheafs Are Dancing DVD-Audio. Add to that – their global touring diary is exhausting… just to read!
The current line-up is Tamás Barabás (bass guitar & lead composer), Attila Égerházi (guitar, percussion and composer), Péter Kaszás( drums, vocals, and a Grammy Award nominee), Áron Koós-Hutás (trumpet, flugelhorn), Zoltán Bubenyák (piano, keyboards) and Zoltán Zana (saxophone, EWI). Many incredible musicians have guested or partnered with the band, which leads me to the next part of the story…
Enter ex-Genesis guitar man and artist in his own right, Steve Hackett. Steve’s collaboration started around 1990 when Atilla was acting as distributor for Steve’s label at the time (Camino Records). They talked often, bonding over a coincidence that both their fathers were painters, then Steve played as a guest on Sheafs are Dancing. The connection grew until the sad passing of Andras, prompting Steve to fly in to play at his memorial. From there, the collaboration was cemented. Djabe and Steve Hackett have released several studio albums and live tours together, including Life Is A Journey: The Sardinia Tapes and Back To Sardinia – the latest tour for Freya has just wrapped as I write this, so it was very good of Attila to take the time to answer some questions for me while he took a well-earned rest.
Coming back to the meaning of the name Djabe. One listen to their music and you start to get a sense of their ”sound”. For me, Djabe sit nestled very comfortably in the intersection of Prog rock, jazz fusion and traditional acoustic; deftly combining to form music that is, in the main, instrumental with elements of easy listening, astral jazz, sublime rocky guitar solo’s and everything in between. Rarely heard vocals are added as well-timed “seasoning” to some tracks, and all combine to deliver a rich, live, multilayered and quite magical performance that has me quite mesmerised at times.
Freya, Arctic Jam is the latest but one formal release from the band, and I was very excited to receive my double RM900 Tape copy a couple of months ago – some equipment changes at my end delayed the final review, for which I apologise. Packed in 2 understated RTM tape boxes, with cover art and back album plate, this release is about the music – not the bling of boxes and fancy inserts. With 15ips tape being a low volume affair, production costs are high, so this is not unusual unless you are comfortable paying what can become quite eyewatering amounts to have your favourite music rotating on a reel to reel player.
The primary recording took place at Svømmenhallen Scene in Norway on the 30th and 31st of January 2024, during the Bodø Jazz Open. The live bonus track Golden Sand, which features on the tape release, was subsequently recorded in February at Dama di in Bodø. The recording was in reality a 3 day jam session performed as rehearsal for the live event which turned into an incredible album. The weather outside, says Atilla, was wild and wintry, but in the hall, while playing, was a contrasting calm and tranquillity that I believe shines through the music. The name Freya is a nod to the wild winds circling the band as they jam.
Djabe with the 8 minutes and a bit In the silence before the headline track Freya enters stage right. The former is a lush, laid-back, seductive track, incredibly easy listening but rich and emotive. A comfy cosy hug of a track to sit by a window watching the world go by. The latter, Freya takes us to a more up-tempo and vibrant place and echoing the winds blowing around the hall Djabe were jamming in, with some great guitar and drum work alongside a soft vocal that combine with strong piano, then horns, to give us a very Prog rock feel at the outset but a jazz fusion exit way. For those who study the classics (hand up at the back?), you will of course know that Freya is a Norse goddess known for beauty, love, war, death, fertility and magic; all things, I believe, Hungary can relate to. Having recently visited Budapest, where I was fortunate enough to meet Ferenc Kosco of My Reel Club (see my review of Planets on this label), I found Hungary to be stunningly beautiful, warm and welcoming. Romantic, brimming with history, art and culture, but of course also a country who’s history includes ravages of war across the centuries, like so many in Europe.
Talking to Ferenc I was also educated on how incredibly rich Hungary has consistently been in its visual and musical output, its talent and its diversity. It’s a real breeding ground of the creative and also home to another incredible Prog Rock band, Panta Rei, who celebrated their 50th anniversary just last year. The more I talked to Ferenc over coffee (the staple drink of Hungary!), the more I started to understand just how overlooked bands like Djabe were in countries like the UK or America. Something I aim to rectify!
The third track on tape 1 is the brilliantly named Stone Age Tea. From there we are at Whispering in the Woods before closing out this 31-minute tape with the ominously titled A Storm is Brewing.
Every track is superbly executed, with an ease and skill that is rare, and the recording is equal in its achievement. Dynamic capture is wonderful, providing us with the softest of lows and frenetic power all with ease; air, natural vibrancy and space around the players are all captured and reproduced incredibly well.
As a unit, this group play flawlessly, clearly knowing where each goes on their musical journey, when, and how to synergise and sympathise along the way. Steve Hackett’s contribution is superb, and it’s clear he has developed a deep affinity playing with Djabe, folding in naturally while elevating the whole with both guitar (his mainstay) and Harmonica. That said this is no “guest spot” where Hackett is placed on a musical pedestal above the main body of the group – far from it – he is band member on equal footing here, a component. And just as his playing adds strength to the whole, each player does the same – you can almost hear his joy at being part of the group, not seeking the limelight, which is very refreshing. There is a parity of contribution, including composition on tracks such as Golden Sand, but a flawless integration of Hackett into a long 30 years established outfit of players.
Onto Tape 2 and Sliding Trees, co-written by Hackett, Chilled drumming and soft keyboards threaded with a world music styled guitar sounds, Middle Eastern even. The piano then takes the lead & counterpoint to balance the energy, at the break we have a softening to a murmur before keyboard and guitar and synth pans chill us out, then we are back to energy and bright liveliness – there really is some incredible playing all over this track – and yes, a lot of it is guitar a la Hackett. Mid way we have that eastern vibe with guitar and tabla, before a beautifully tender Flugelhorn cuts through, before itself giving way to the ensemble, all chipping in once again for the conclusion. At over 9 minutes long, Sliding Trees is one of the standout tracks of this brilliant album.
The Tape has an additional “hidden“ version of (what sounds like) Sliding Trees that is very much more relaxed, laid back, melancholic even, but sublime nonetheless, with bags of subtlety and emotion. By hidden, I mean not track listed, but that explains the timings on tape 2 not adding up, so it could simply be a typo!
The recording and production on this tape are simply superb. Subtlety, dynamics and a sense of “realness” are what really make this tape release shine! You can hear the feeling being poured into each piece – I’m on my 7th playthrough and everyone reveals new layers and detail.
The Lost Ship with it’s swirling, spacey turns with keyboards, more driving guitar sound, and up-tempo, rich and complex drumming – its incredible bass slaps and finger work are impossible not to nod along to. It’s vibrant, exciting and rhythmic Prog at its best, with hints of a Carlos Santana vibe – skilful doesn’t even begin to describe it.
Golden Sand – a live bonus track on the Tape release, that’s not available as part of the Freya album on streaming services, keeps me just as enthralled and engaged albeit it’s a much gentler track, at least to start with. More melancholic at times, there is a real tenderness and emotion in the horn playing, echoed by soft drumming and considered guitar work. The bass is wonderful, and the track continues it progresses sonically and rises, aching guitar rising up, lifting us up from that melancholy to a more worshipful serenity of sound. Keyboards lift the mood and inject lighter energy into the piece. At nearly 10 minutes, it’s an odyssey of a track that at times descends into free and fusion jazz, while at others it’s an almost uplifting ceremony of praise. The cheers and applause of the intimate crowd at the end say it all!
While the album is coherent as a body of work that has a clear “DNA” to it, there is also real diversity at times to surprise and delight (yes delight!) you. On tape, I feel like all the artifice of the player behind a “HiFi” is stripped away; we are there, with them, every step of the way. And I, for one, am jubilant to be a part of it.
What I love about tape is that once you put it on, it’s staying on…until it runs out. There is no song hopping like with streaming or CD. When an album doesn’t grab you, this can be a chore (very rare), but when it’s a good as this, it’s a true joy and you can put the world to one side and just enjoy!
This is adult, high-quality, emotionally charged and beautiful music, but with both a richness and ease to it. You don’t have to “listen” to it to hear the nuances and layers – they are the meat and bones of the piece, just dive in and enjoy it!
Freya – Arctic Jam 15ips/38cms CCIR (2 x Metal reels)is available direct from Djabes own website for €531 + shipping (and any local taxes). The release is also available on 7.5ips Tape, CD, Vinyl and on streaming platforms (with varying tracks contained).
Track listings Total run time 64:29
Tape 1
In the Silence (8:26)
Freya (5:26)
Stone Age Tea (6:46)
Whispers of the Woods (8:34)
A Storm is Brewing (10:26)
Tape 2
Sliding Trees (9:18)
Extra version of Sliding trees (approx. 8 mins)
The Lost Ship (6:06)
Bonus Live track – Golden Sand (9:41)
Alan McIntosh
