Elek Bacsik
Elek Bacsik (22 May 1926 – 14 February 1993) was a Hungarian-American jazz guitarist and violinist. He was the cousin of guitarist Django Reinhardt.[1]
Elek Bacsik | |
|---|---|
| Born | 22 May 1926 Budapest, Hungary |
| Died | 14 February 1993 (aged 66) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar, violin |
| Years active | 1960s–1970s |
| Labels | Fontana |
Career
Bacsik was born in Budapest, Hungary. He was the son of Árpád Bacsik and Erzsébet Pócsi.
He studied classical violin at the Budapest Conservatory before moving to jazz guitar.[2] He worked in a big band with Jozsef Quitter and Geza Szabo and recorded for the first time in his career with this band[1] in 1943.[2] A few years later he went on tour in Europe and Lebanon with Mihaly Tabanyi.[2] He was hired by Renato Carosone to be in a quartet with Peter Van Wood and Gegè Di Giacomo in which he played bass, violin, and guitar.[2] When he lived in Paris, he accompanied American musicians who were passing through, such as Lou Bennett, Dizzy Gillespie,[1] Quentin Jackson, Art Simmons, and Clark Terry.[2] He also supported French singer Serge Gainsbourg.[2] In 1966, he moved to the U.S.[1] and until 1974 accompanied Teresa Brewer.[2][1] In the 1970s he recorded as a leader on violin and electric violin.[2] He played at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1974 and ten years later at the Olympic Games Jazz Festival in Los Angeles.[2][1]
Discography
As leader
- The Electric Guitar of the Eclectic Elek Bacsik (Fontana, 1962)
- Guitar Conceptions (Fontana, 1963)
- I Love You (Bob Thiele Music, 1974)
- Bird and Dizzy: A Musical Tribute (Flying Dutchman, 1975)
As sideman
- Barbara, Barbara Chante Barbara (Philips, 1964)
- Barbara, Au Bois De Saint-Amand (Philips, 1965)
- Lou Bennett, Dansez et Revez (Phono 2017)
- Serge Gainsbourg, Gainsbourg Confidentiel (Philips, 1964)
- Serge Gainsbourg, 1963 Théâtre des Capucines (Mercury, 2001)
- Dizzy Gillespie, Dizzy on the French Riviera (Philips, 1962)
- Dizzy Gillespie, New Wave (Philips, 1963)
- Quincy Jones, $ (Reprise, 1972)
- Jeanne Moreau, Jeanne Moreau No.2 12 Chansons (Jacques Canetti 1967)
- Claude Nougaro, No. 2 (Philips, 1963)
Bibliography
References
- Wynn, Ron. "Elek Bacsik". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
- Gabor Simon, Geza; Lotz, Rainer E. (2002). Kernfeld, Barry (ed.). The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz. Vol. 1 (2nd ed.). New York: Grove's Dictionaries. p. 102. ISBN 1-56159-284-6.
Sources
- Barnett, Anthony. Almost Like Being in Bop: a Not-So-Brief Account of the Hidden History of the Swing to Recorded Bebop and Progressive Violin in America and Europe. Lewes, East Sussex: AB Fable, 2005. More information on his recordings on violin on AB Fable Bulletin : violin improvisation studies
External links
- Elek Bacsik on www.djangostation.com Archived 28 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine (in French)
- Biography on www.about-django.com Archived 20 June 2006 at the Wayback Machine (in French)