Reviews of Acoustic Poetry
2025.01.31.Reviews of Henk te Veldhuis, Bridge Guitar Reviews
The career of this Hungarian acoustic guitarist started in 1980. After studying classical, jazz and improvised music his goal was to play abroad, as Hungary had no tradition for acoustic guitar. So Sandor Szabo focused on playing in other parts of the world with success.
His music represents a mix of classical, Hungarian folk and Eastern music. During concerts Sandor uses many guitars, like a 16 and 8 stringed bass guitar. Acoustic Music Records released several CD’s of his music. He just released his new album Acoustic Poetry, which is played on a baritone guitar.
Most compositions express pensive meditative moods by painting sound palettes with a profound and spiritual character. Many of his works are inspired by nature as Walk, Valley of Shades and The Rain Makers Suite. One has to stand open for new dimensions in music and a challenging enthusiasm from the listener is required.
Admitting to these criteria’s one will encounter as well brilliant sound escapades with a soothing and contemplative character written in enthralling sounding poetry. Sandor Szabo is a unique and superb artist on a guitar, as well as a creator of atmosphere who draws from a wide knowledge of several musical styles, who is able with as well excellent techniques as a new approach to music to fully absorb a listener.
Reviews of Patrick Ragains
The music on this CD just grows on me. On all but one selection, Hungarian guitarist Sandor Szabo plays a custom Lakewood baritone guitar, using tunings ranging as low as contra bass A. “Walk,” “Equation of the Existence” and several other tracks recall Pat Metheny’s baritone guitar playing on “One Quiet Night.”
“The Silence of Your Soul” begins with a singer-songwriter sensibility, moves into a harmonically dark and rhythmically jagged section, then returns to the peacefulness of the introduction. Similarly, he juxtaposes contrasting moods in “Autumn in California.”
Szabo uses two extended suites, “The Rainmaker’s Suite” and Hungarian Folk Ballads,” to develop ideas and explore shifting textures at greater length. For a pleasant tonal contrast he plays a 21-string Chinese guzheng on “South Korean Landscape,” which closes the disc.
Sandor Szabo has a long pedigree as a solo and ensemble guitarist — “Acoustic Poetry” should both satisfy his existing base of listeners and earn him many new fans.