You are listening to Jackie Orszaczky and the Orszaczky Budget Orchestra featuring Tina Harod vocals from the CD "Deep Down & Out" LK001

Jackie Orszaczky was born in 1948 in Budapest Hungary, where he studied classical piano and violin. By his early twenties he went on to become an important rock artist for a generation of young Hungarians and today he still commands crowds of 30,000 people at his annual Budapest concerts. In the early 70’s he started writing for and experimenting with unusual instrumentation and larger ensembles. Jackie’s (jazz-rock) group SYRUS toured Eastern and Western Europe and then Australia in 1970-71. An album was recorded in Melbourne by the group for release in Australia and Hungary. Jackie was invited to return to Australia to join experimental rock-group Bakery in 1974. He remained in Australia and released his first solo (jazz) album BERAMIADA in 1975.

This established him as a unique artist with a very different approach to jazz. Orszaczky was now in high demand as a session bassist and arranger working on pop, country, rock and jazz records. Through one of these engagements he was invited to lead Australia's first significant soul band – that of vocalist Marcia Hines. The music was influenced by the African-American soul and R&B tradition that Jackie loved. Through the mid 70's to 1980, as Musical Director he wrote all the orchestrations and arrangements for the group’s live concerts The "Marcia Hines Live Across Australia" album with with Orszaczky arrangements sold over 200,000 copies. The early 80’s were spent searching for new ways of expressions, re-evaluating the position of a "serious rock-jazz musician". This period gave birth to some experimental groups, such as a trio with young guitarist Peter O'Mara – now well established in the German jazz scene - and others, such as BLAND FRENZY, THE ALPHABETICS, and THE ASTONISHED BOYFRIENDS.

Jack started to feel the urge to sing again (it takes a while to build up confidence in a newly learnt language despite the pidgin-Hungarian-English he practiced in his birthplace) so he got right back into his unique singing-style with bands such as THE STANMORE GROOVERS and THE SOUL AGENTS relearning the soul-classics. Audiences were getting interested in black music - soul, R&B and funk so the time was ripe to put together JUMP BACK JACK. For a short time known as the O. K. CLUB, Orszaczky's jazz-soul band JUMP BACK JACK brought brilliant technical players together with a feel element like no other group here had done before. Added to this was a combination of freedom, skill and rhythmic dynamics that audiences could dance to. This band featured two drum-kits, a classical percussionist, a four piece horn section – all playing original arrangements.

The independently released JUMP BACK JACK- "BLUE COVER" was followed by DOUBLE TAKE through ABC Records. The huge audiences the group commanded are now 'legendary'. They opened shows for Stevie Wonder and Al Jarreau, and played the huge dance-parties of the era - Rat Parties and Fun Parties. In 1987 INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT was a 'performance art' ensemble which combined the following elements: transcripts of factory machine rhythms, strings and large brass section, 'live' arc-welding, sculpture and oil-painting, classical type battery including timpani, marimba and xylophone, and a thirty piece mixed choir. Reviews in the press were full of praise for the innovative execution of the events. A self-titled home-produced CASSETTE by INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT documents some of the material performed. Orszaczky's next project, HUNGARIAN RAPSADISTS, brought together the influences of his Hungarian folk music roots, rap style vocals (in Hungarian language) authentic gipsy music and the tradition of the 'working men's choir', with live edge-of-the seat sampling technology. Two discs have been recorded with this material: the self titled Hungarian Rapsadists 45rpm EP and the CD, 100%(the latter released on Hungaroton only).

GRAVITY, a season of concerts combined the music of Jackie Orszaczky and Jump Back Jack with the choreography and dancing of Stephen Page (Sydney Dance Co), Russel Page (AIDT} and Michael Hennessy (Sydney Dance Co). Reviews from music and dance critics were great, and full houses on each of the 8 nights witnessed a unique symbiosis of art forms. With no 'showtime' kitsch - a refreshing, innovative performance combined the exhilaration and technique of dynamic artists with the accessibility of a nightclub atmosphere. The next live project was GODMOTHERS. Jackie' vision was an organ trio (Hammond, bass, drums) with great vocal harmonies carrying the tunes. With vocalists Lily Dior and Monique Morrell, and drums, plus Jack's bass and vocals this group built a huge following around the clubs and bars. Later extended with fine guitarist Arne Hanna, the music was reminiscent of the Ray Charles style R&B/ Jazz thing. The soaring vocals and dead funky grooves had Sydney dancing for a few years until Jack decided to move on to the next project.

In the meantime a mysterious and confounding ensemble was performing on Wednesday nights in the Round Midnight Club in Sydney: Jack (bass and vocals), Carl Orr (guitar), Tony Buck (drums) and Chris Abrahams (piano) were the GRAY SUITS. Deconstructing jazz, pop, and easy listening with an equal mix of affection, cruelty and astute musicality the fulsome foursome played everything from Duane Eddy surf guitar tunes to James Brown, jazz standards and the worst of Oz Rock (Australian 'pub rock' of the 1980s). Rarely have such brilliant musicians been heard to perform so woefully. The many musicians, critics and artists who witnessed these mind-boggling concerts claim their perceptions of 'good music' were henceforth turned around. Jack has several live projects running currently:

The GRANDMASTERS - a groove/R&B band with vocalist TINA HARROD The ORSZACZKY BUDGET ORCHESTRA - Combine an extraordinary brass-band called EUROPE'S WORST performing originals, old eastern European marches, big band blues and whatever takes Jack's fancy to arrange for horns, throw in with a string quartet - melding R&B, folk and contemporary ballads with spine tingling vocals from Tina and Jack. ODD, - a funkin' organ trio with bass parts played on the Hammond organ pedals, and Jack playing the 'piccolo' bass (a high-tuned bass guitar with light gauge strings pitched at D, G, C, F).This gives the bass-guitarist the freedom and pitch range to create melody and embellishment not usually associated with standard bass lines. An octave divider pedal can give the bottom end when required.

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