Now being organised for the twelfth year by Müpa Budapest, the Jazz Showcase is firmly established as one of Central Europe's most important musical talent exchanges. As in previous years, nine young bands will compete to be the jury's, and the audience's, favourite. The performances will represent the broadest possible variety of jazz styles and instrumentation. Winners of the grand prize and audience prize will get a chance to play at Müpa Budapest again in 2019, and special category prizes will also be awarded. This event is presented in association with the Hungarian Jazz Federation, the Zemplén Festival and the Jazz Studies Research Group (Jatakucs).
Tivadar Varga, the group's pianist and leader, has been playing music since he was five. He graduated from the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in 2018, where he studied under Kálmán Oláh. The trio was formed from senior year students in 2017. Their repertoire includes Tivadar Varga's own compositions. Here, we cannot pass by without mentioning the name of Oscar Peterson, who has had a huge impact on Tivadar both as a pianist and in terms of classic musical influences. The trio have also been influenced by groove, drum and bass and swing music and place great emphasis on collective improvisation. The Tivadar Varga Trio have performed to great acclaim at a number of Hungarian jazz festivals.

Presented by: Müpa Budapest