According to the Hungarian musicians’ community, he is the ‘leader saxophone player’ in Hungary. You can find his name on the jacket of nearly 500 records, either his own or several celebrated artists.
He was working as a teacher at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music for twenty years. Therefore numerous popular young Hungarian saxophonist studied under him.
Moreover, he has for more than twenty years been working as a soloist for the former Hungarian Radio Band, now performing independently as Studio 11. Csepregi is not only the member of the group but he is its artistic director.
He won eMeRTon Award fifth and Hungarian Radio Standard Award two times. In recognition of his international success, he has been awarded several times: Haga Festival’s Special Award, Finnish Radio’s Standard Award and EBU Festival’s, which was organized in Norway, Outstanding Soloist Award.
He is a member of an international ”All Stars” Band. He played together with the famous guitar virtuoso Mike Stern, the world-famous vibraphone wizard Dave Samuels from Spyro Gyra Band, Russel Ferrante pianist, the founder of the two-time Grammy awarded Yellowjackets and the excellent drummer Alex Acuna from the legendary Weather Report. They gave concerts as Twin Lines Project all over the world.
Short Biography
Gyula Csepregi began his studies at Béla Bartók Academy of Music in 1980.
One year later he appeared as a soloist in the legendary Hungarian drummer Gyula Kovács’s Band.
He quickly became a valued saxophone soloist and joined the front-rank Hungarian jazz bandsmen. As from 1982, he played with the famed Aladár Pege, Imre K'szegi, Gyula Babos and Szakcsi.
Additionally, it did him credit that he played music with several Hungarian pop/rock stars too.
At the same time he achieved considerable international success in the field of jazz. He visited the whole Scandinavia playing together with numerous local and American musicians. Owing to his brilliant performing art, he attracted attention in Europe too. More and more international jazz band invited him to appear with them as a guest artist.
Between 1982 and 1984, he was the permanent member of Aladár Pege’s Band. They travelled together throughout Europe.
In 1984, Gyula co-founded the Hungarian Jazz Quartett with Pál Vasvári, Béla Szakcsi Lakatos and Vilmos Jávori. They were one of the most successful Hungarian jazz band ever existed. Their album titled New Age might have been sold in the largest number of copies among the Hungarian jazz albums. This band had also international success. In the middle of the 80s, it was regarded as one of the most popular band in Europe.
At that time Gyula won his first eMeRTon Award.
He has been a soloist of the Broadcasting Band of the Hungarian Radio / Studio11/ since 1988. He is the artistic leader of this band since 2004.
One year later he co-founded the group In Line with Pál Vasvári. Shortly afterwards they were regarded as the most successful Hungarian jazz band. They made together fifteen albums, includes two with the amazing Dave Samuels and three with the excellent polish violin player and composer Krzesimir Debski. Beside them , quite a lot of young Hungarian musicians could have a chance to play with the In Line which gave them a greater status in the Hungarian musical life.
He has since 1997 been a member of an international ”All Stars” Band. He played together with the famous guitar virtuoso Mike Stern, the world-famous vibraphone wizard Dave Samuels (Spyro Gyra), Russel Ferrante pianist (from the two-time Grammy awarded Yellowjackets), Pál Vasvári on the bass, and the excellent drummer Alex Acuna from the legendary Weather Report. This band called Twin Lines Project. They made a double CD titled One from the studio ”One from the stage.
Gyula is the most heart-stirring Hungarian saxophone player. Beside his brilliant technique, his marvelous playing covers the whole scale of emotions. As it is kept saying among friends, not only the talent but the heart is the most important for sounding the saxophone. As a soloist, he has always been an experimenting musician. He has had “adventures” in the field of symphonic music but is at home in pop/rock music too. Of course the jazz is “all over” in his musician life.
Awards:
eMeRTon Award founded by the Hungarian Radio:
Jazz Band of the Year (Hungarian Jazz Quartet), 1986
Life-Achievement Award (Studio 11), 1995
Instrumental Soloist of the Year, 1996
Jazz Band of the Year, 1997
Discovered of the Year (Hungarian World Music Orchestra), 1998
Standard Award of the Hungarian Radio, 1998
eMeRTon Award founded by the Hungarian Radio:
Jazz Band of the Year (Hungarian Jazz Quartet), 1986
Life-Achievement Award (Studio 11), 1995
Instrumental Soloist of the Year, 1996
Jazz Band of the Year, 1997
Discovered of the Year (Hungarian World Music Orchestra), 1998
Standard Award of the Hungarian Radio, 1998
Standard Award of the Hungarian Radio, 2000
Gábor Szabó Award, 2009
International appreciation:
Haga Festival’s Special Award
Finnish Radio’s Standard Award
EBU Festival’s Outstanding Soloist Award.
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