Àbáse

Àbáse is the project of Hungarian multi-instrumentalist and producer Szabolcs Bognár, a classically trained jazz pianist who has become a pivotal figure in the cross-continental jazz-electronic scene. Based in Berlin, Bognár's sound identity is defined by 'cooperation' (the meaning of Àbáse in Yoruba), blending his Budapest Conservatory roots with deep immersions in West African highlife and Brazilian percussion.

His career arc moved from organizing Fela Kuti festivals to recording local masters in Salvador and Rio, resulting in a discography that functions as a bridge between traditional folk rhythms and modern club culture. Critically, he is aligned with the 'New London Jazz' movement despite his Central European base, sharing a sonic vocabulary with artists like Emma-Jean Thackray and Yussef Dayes. His work is characterized by high-fidelity analog production, a heavy reliance on the Rhodes piano, and a sophisticated use of polyrhythms that avoids the clichés of 'world music' by maintaining a gritty, hip-hop influenced edge. He is a key figure for collectors of global groove and spiritual jazz.