Album Notes

Életfa Hungarian Folk Band is one of the premier Hungarian folk bands in North America. The band was formed over sixteen years ago in the New York/New Jersey area by a group of multi-talented performers, utilizing such instruments as violin, viola, 3-stringed kontra, cello, 3-stringed bass, percussive cello, and cimbalom, together with beautiful vocals. The group's members treat their audiences to a high-energy, entertaining tour of Hungarian culture, having enjoyed success at various unique venues such as the Epcot Center, Library of Congress, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Empire State Building, Clearwater Revival Festival, Liberty State Park, Manhattan's Town Hall, World Trade Center, Washington Press Club, American Museum of Natural History (Manhattan), and several New York clubs, including Tonic, CB Gallery, and the Knitting Factory. The band has appeared in cities throughout North America, including Austin, New Orleans, Sarasota, Detroit, Toronto, San Francisco, Columbus, Ottawa, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Montreal, Houston, Washington, D.C., Miami, Boston, Calgary and Cleveland. Életfa has performed several times for dignitaries at the Hungarian Consulate in New York and the Hungarian Embassy in Washington, D.C., and has played at the Governors' Mansions in New York and New Jersey. The group has appeared with several well-known artists, including Kalman Balogh, Janos Csik, Andras Berecz, and Alexander Fedoriouk. Életfa has accompanied top dance groups of the United States and Canada and has played for audiences at countless festivals, camps, workshops, and solo performances. The band also hosts a regular Táncház [folk dance gathering] in New York City. The performers on this CD are:
Ildiko Magyar, Natalia Zagyva, Kalman "Ocsi" Magyar, Jozsef "Heki" Gartai, Attila Papp, Raul Rothblatt, with Alexander Fedoriouk (cimbalom), Miklos Ujvari (guitar), Bela Garai (bass), Melanie Kent (percussive cello), and the Women's Chorus of the Csurdongolo Dance Ensemble of New Brunswick, New Jersey.