Gáspár Károly Trio

Pianist Gáspár Károly is a defining figure of the Hungarian jazz scene. Alongside his multifaceted musical career, he worked for seven years as an editor-presenter at Karc FM, and since 2013 he has been writing reviews as the head of the critics’ section at JazzMa.hu. He has also contributed to the music magazine Gramofon.

With his trio, he performs both original compositions and jazz standards. Their music is characterized by a fresh, forward-looking approach that is at once romantic and refined, while remaining rooted in the traditions of mainstream jazz.

Discography:

• The trio’s debut album, The Outsider, was released in February 2017 by Hunnia Records. In addition to eight compositions by Gáspár, the album features an arrangement of Jenő Horváth’s song Ma este nem gondoltam rád. The album was voted “Album of the Year” by JazzMa.hu readers in 2017 and was nominated for a Fonogram Award in 2019.
• In March 2019, the trio’s second album, Salvation, was released by TOM-TOM Records, earning a Fonogram Award nomination in 2020.
• Their third album, Philosophy, appeared in March 2021 (Tom-Tom Records), and in June 2021 it entered the MAHASZ Top 40 sales chart—marking the first time a jazz album had ever appeared on the list.
• In March 2022, Gáspár released his solo piano album Centuries Suite (Tom-Tom Records).
• The trio’s album Tribute to Giants was released in September 2023 (Tom-Tom Records), featuring a new rhythm section with bassist Géza Jónás and drummer Balázs Bágyi.
• In June 2025, the trio released their latest album, Peace – Time, also with Tom-Tom Records.

Awards:

• In 2019, Gáspár Károly was named “Pianist of the Year” in the JazzMa.hu editorial poll. In the Festival and Concert Organizers’ poll, Salvation was awarded “Album of the Year,” and the Gáspár Károly Trio received the title “Band of the Year.”
• In the 2020 JazzMa.hu readers’ poll, the “Pianist of the Year” award was shared by Kálmán Oláh and Károly Gáspár.

Photo: Róbert Lajos
Organizer: Pesti Vigadó