“Bacchanal” is an album by Gabor Szabo, recorded on February 9, 1968, at Western Recording Studios, Los Angeles, and released on Skye Records as a 180-gram audiophile vinyl in gatefold sleeve format (SK-3, audiophile reissue). This remastered reissue revives the record with exceptional clarity, highlighting the warmth of Szabo’s guitar. The lineup features Gabor Szabo (guitar), Jimmy Stewart (guitar), Louis Kabane (bass), Hal Gordon (percussion), and Jim Keltner (drums). The album includes eight tracks, mostly jazz interpretations of 1960s pop songs, such as Donovan’s Three King Fishers and Sunshine Superman, Lee Hazlewood’s Some Velvet Morning, and Burt Bacharach’s The Look of Love, alongside Szabo’s original Bacchanal. The music blends jazz, bossa nova, and psychedelic pop, with Szabo’s guitar crafting hypnotic melodies and the rhythm section adding lively, pulsating energy. The Skye Records audiophile edition, a limited release, is prized for its rich, detailed sound, capturing the vibe of the late-1960s California scene. “Bacchanal” is a bold, atmospheric record, showcasing Szabo’s talent for transforming pop music into jazz masterpieces.
Gabor Szabo (March 8, 1936 – February 26, 1982) was a Hungarian jazz guitarist and composer whose innovative style blended jazz, pop, rock, and ethnic motifs. Born in Budapest, he began playing guitar in his youth, inspired by Hungarian folk music and Charlie Christian’s jazz. After the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, Szabo emigrated to the USA, studying at Berklee School of Music and joining California’s jazz scene. In the 1960s, he collaborated with Chico Hamilton, Charles Lloyd, and Gary McFarland, gaining fame for his melancholic sound infused with Eastern and Gypsy influences. Szabo recorded numerous albums as a leader, including Bacchanal, which stands out for its bold reimagining of pop songs in a jazz context. His lyrical, improvisational guitar style inspired musicians like Carlos Santana. Later, Szabo taught and performed, leaving a vibrant legacy in jazz.
TRACKLIST
Side One:
1. Three King Fishers (Donovan) 4:48
2. Love is Blue (Popp-Cour-Blackburn) 4:17
3. Theme from “Valley of the Dolls” (Previn-Previn) 3:48
4. Bacchanal (Gabor Szabo) 4:55
Side Two:
1. Sunshine Superman (Donovan) 3:45
2. Some Velvet Morning (Lee Hazelwood) 5:10
3. The Look of Love (Bacharach-David) 3:15
4. Divided City (Gabor Szabo) 3:20
Personnel:
Gabor Szabo, Jimmy Stewart (guitars); Louis Kabok (bass), Hal Gordon (percussion), Jim Keltner (drums).
Recorded at Western Recording Studios, Los Angeles, CA, on February 9, 1968
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