Andreas Varady The Quest

Andreas Varady
The Quest
Resonance Records

One of a number of younger artists Quincy Jones is currently championing, he discovered the Slovak Varady when introduced to him at the 2012 Montreux Jazz Festival when he was 12. Jones in the liner booklet states, "It's not every day that you see a 15-year-old playing like George Benson! There was something about him and he had the same type of spark that I had seen in some of the musical greats I previously worked with." Varady produced this recording and did all the composing and led this ensemble that includes his brother Adrian on drums, father Bandi on bass, fellow Slovak Radiska on saxophone and the brilliant Venezuelan-born pianist, Benito Gonzalez.

He may have been a prodigy when Quincy Jones first encountered Varady, who is of Hungarian Roma descent. Varady now displays not simply formidable chops, in what now might be considered traditional guitar vein of Montgomery, Burrell, Grant Green and the like, but is also a composer leading an excellent band. The brief "Lost Memories" introduces this ensemble with a dynamic groove as the leader's fleet runs are matched by the band. "Radio Joint" opens with Varady and Radiska playing the main theme over a repeated piano line before Varady generates a lot of heat in his solo before Radiska barrels forth in an energized post-Coltrane-mode as Gonzalez comps and solos in a manner akin to McCoy Tyner. Like Radiska, Gonzalez shows his own musical personality. There is subtle electronic effects employed at the closing portion of this performance. Gonzalez's lovely opening for "Follow Me" provides a tranquil beginning before the full band add a bit of energy with 15-year-old Adrian displaying a dynamic attack before playing more gently under the lyrical solo from Gonzalez. This is followed by the two brothers playing explosively together.

"The Time is Now" displays Varady's fleet and fluid attack along with his finesse in negotiating the changes, while the brief interlude "Patience" involves some evocative use of effects. The album gets its title from "The Quest to Dopeness." It opens with Gonzalez playing inside the piano with the two brothers add texture and colors before Varady and Radiska state the theme and negotiate the shifting tempos and melodic lines prior to the leader taking a crisp, fleet solo followed by the saxophonist's husky solo (even briefly quoting Coltrane). This is all set against the pianist's block chord and explosive drumming with the younger Varady soloing with the band riffing in support. "Story" is a beautiful composition with Varady and Radiska playing wonderfully in a lyrical manner. "Radiska" finds the group again in a post-Coltrane vein, with magical playing from Gonzalez who again channels Tyner . Also on this is  Varady's own scintillating solo and Radiska's strong sax here. One cannot lose sight of the superb work of Bandi and Adrian in providing a strong foundation. More electronic effects mix with a serene melody for the concluding "Outro."

This is the third recording from Andreas Varady, and showcases his considerable talents along with an excellent band resulting in this superb recording.

I received my review copy from a publicist. This review originally appeared in the May-June 2018 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 378), although I have made a few stylistic changes. Here is the promo video for this album.