Gabor Szabo's Dreams

“Dreams” is an album by Hungarian guitarist Gábor Szabó recorded in 1968 and released the year after on the Skye label. It was his first release after leaving Impulse at the end of the Sixties (for which he recorded such legendary albums as Jazz Raga, Gypsy 66, Spellbinder, The Sorcerer, and Simpatico.) Recorded at Western Recordings, Los Angeles August 6, 7 & 9, 1968, and at Gotham Recordings, New York, August 22, 1968, the record was produced and arranged by the pianist Gary McFarland. Other musicians, besides Szabo and McFarland, include Jimmy Stewart (guitars,) Louis Kabok (bass,) Jim Keltner (drums,) Hal Gordon (percussion,) Tony Miranda, Ray Alonge, Brooks Tillotson (French horn,) Julius Schacter (violin) and George Ricci (cello).

 “Dreams” is a collection of originals, pop covers, and classical reinterpretations. From the opening composition, in which Szabo’s guitar has almost a sitar-like sound and phrasing, it is clear that this isn't an ordinary jazz record. From start to end, the music shifts from more traditional styles to a mix of eastern European melodies, Latin rhythms, and conventional jazz idioms.

Gábor Szabó was an influential jazz guitarist, famous for mixing jazz, pop-rock, and his native Hungarian music. Ne made his breakthrough with the Chico Hamilton’s quintet from 1961 to 1965, playing what has been described as chamber jazz, with "a moderate avant-gardism.” Beginning in 1966 he recorded a well-received span of albums under his own name on the Impulse! label. In the late 1960s, he co-founded the short-lived Skye record label along with Cal Tjader and Gary McFarland. Szabó's playing tended to incorporate elements of folk music from his native Hungary, from Gypsy and Roma influences, and also rock music's use of feedback. His mid-1960s jazz/gypsy guitar work also strongly influenced Carlos Santana's playing. Indeed, Szabó's composition "Gypsy Queen" was used as the second part of Santana's 1970 treatment of Peter Green's composition "Black Magic Woman", almost down to identical guitar licks. Santana's 2012 instrumental album Shape Shifter includes a song called "Mr. Szabo", played in tribute in the style of Gábor Szabó. He died in Budapest in February 1982, while visiting his homeland after many years.