Ábàse

In search of cosmic rhythms of unity, Àbáse is the product of the imagination of Hungarian producer and keyboardist Szabolcs Bognár. Creating a sophisticated blend of jazz, West African music, Brazilian influences, hip-hop, and electronics, he released his second album Awakening in collaboration with Analogue Foundation.

The album was created after moving to Berlin, getting married, having a child, and reflecting on mortality, which arises when a loved one passes away. It is a testament to the ability of music to transcend the boundaries of time and space, carrying a message of unity, dialogue, and self-reflection.

Recorded in four days at Berlin’s Brewery Studios, with the involvement of a close-knit team of collaborators, the album weaves together Àbáse’s diverse influences—from classic Afrobeat from Lagos, Hungarian traditional music, and Yoruba rhythms, to house, techno, and hip-hop—with sophisticated modal improvisation driven by Szabi’s introspection.

His work has received widespread critical acclaim. His debut album Laroyê, recorded entirely during a five-month journey to Brazil, earned praise from The Guardian, BBC Radio 6, Selection, KEXP, and Complex. As a keyboardist, Szabi has collaborated with artists such as Wayne Snow, Dele Sosimi, Pat Thomas, and Zeitgeist Freedom Energy Exchange.