“The best band I’ve ever played with.” – Steve Hackett, guitarist of Genesis

Hungarian fusion pioneers Djabe have been redefining world jazz since their formation in 1995. Blending progressive jazz and rock, Hungarian folk motifs, and global rhythms, the ensemble has earned international acclaim, including Hungary’s prestigious eMeRTon Award and multiple “Best Jazz Album” honours in their home country. Over three decades, Djabe has become one of Central Europe’s most iconic jazz exports, touring across Europe, Asia, and North America. The band is widely recognized for its longstanding collaboration with Steve Hackett of Genesis fame and guitarist Chieli Minucci of Special EFX fame, producing a series of celebrated live recordings that fuse progressive rock textures with jazz improvisation. Their expansive discography includes more than 20 albums, most recently Freya – Arctic Jam (2025). Djabe last toured Canada several years ago but have not previously appeared at TD Victoria International JazzFest, making this 2026 performance a significant festival debut. For listeners who crave global textures woven into modern fusion, Djabe’s TD JazzFest set offers a rare opportunity to witness one of Europe’s most enduring jazz-rock collectives live on the West Coast. Tamás Barabás bass, Attila Égerházi guitar/percussion, Péter Kaszás drums/vocals, Áron Koós-Hutás trumpet/flugelhorn, Zoltán Bubenyák piano/keyboards, Zoltán Zana saxophone/EWI

Thanks to the Hungarian Cultural Fund