Attila László

Award winning jazz guitarist, composer and educator

 

After graduating from the Faculty of Architecture at the Budapest University of Technology and the Béla Bartók Conservatory of Music, Attila played in leading Hungarian jazz groups and has led his own bands since 1975. In the 1980s, he founded Things, a fusion supergroup with Tony Lakatos, a band that played a key role in bringing jazz fusion to Hungary.

 

In 1992, he formed the Attila László Band that was active for 15 years and played mostly contemporary jazz. They toured the United States in January 2004, including a special concert in New York where they played to representatives of the United Nations from more than forty countries.

 

Between 2009 and 2019, Attila visited India five times on invitation form Indian composer Ilaiya Raaja Noble.

 

Attila László was also a founding member of Guitar Trio, a fusion supergroup in which he played alongside famed Hungarian guitar virtuosos Gyula Babos and Tibor Tátrai.

 

As a composer, arranger and musician, Attila has worked with Hungarian pop/rock icon Charlie for over 28 years, scoring several best-selling albums, arena shows and televised festival appearances. He also served as musical director for the Charlie Jazz concerts in the 2000s.    

 

The albums of Attila's various jazz outfits (that include combo, big band and chamber orchestra recordings) are true gems that are sought after by discerned jazz fans all over the world. He is an associate professor at the Ferenc Liszt Music Academy's Jazz Faculty where he has been an educator since 1987. Currently he also leads the Academy's big band.

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Awards and prizes:

1999: Gábor Szabó Jazz Lifetime Achievement Award (Hungarian Jazz Association).

2000: Leó Weiner Music Education Award (MAOE)

2003: Liszt Ferenc Prize

2010: Meritorious Artist of the Republic of Hungary

2010: Gramofon Jazz Prize

2015: János Gonda Music Pedagogy Award (Hungarian Jazz Association)

2017: Non-Classical Composer of the Year Award (Artisjus)