Best of Budapest & Hungary

On November 18, Budapest audiences can look forward to a unique musical encounter: the Korean jazz quartet 30 Club will perform at Jedermann Café as part of the JazzFest Budapest series, in collaboration with the Korean Cultural Center. The concert is not only a celebration for jazz lovers, but also the closing highlight of the commemorative events marking the 80th Anniversary of Korean Liberation.

   JazzFest Budapest, now in its fourth year under the artistic direction of Attila Kleb, has quickly become one of the region’s most exciting jazz festivals. This year’s program features world-renowned artists such as Marcus Miller, Avishai Cohen, and a special tribute to the Esbjörn Svensson Trio. Building on international artistic exchange, Korean jazz has held a prominent place in the festival lineup: in the spring, Park Gene-young New Trio brought Korean musical colors to the city — and this autumn, 30 Club continues the dialogue.

    The Voice of the New Korean Jazz Generation& A Tribute to Freedeom

    30 Club represents the forefront of Korea’s contemporary jazz scene. Led by saxophonist Kim Chanyoung, the quartet has been named a “Rising Star” by Jazz People magazine, and won the Searching for Jazz Man program organized by the Jarasum Jazz Festival and the Arts Council Korea (ARKO). Their music blends explosive energy with refined detail, weaving together the legacy of classic jazz and the momentum of the present.

    The Budapest performance will include a special moment: the piece “The Light Regained,” composed in honor of the 80th Anniversary of Korean Liberation. The work symbolizes renewal and hope — expressing in music the timeless value of freedom shared by both Korean and Hungarian cultural memory.

    From Seoul to Budapest

    “The partnership between JazzFest Budapest and the Jarasum Jazz Festival opens new horizons for Korean-Hungarian musical exchange. We are especially pleased that Korea has been invited as Guest of Honor for the 2026 festival — offering even greater visibility to the unique voices of Korean musicians.” — Yu Hye-ryong, Director of the Korean Cultural Center in Hungary

    The performance by 30 Club marks a fitting conclusion to a year in which Korean music played a prominent bridging role in Budapest — from Jung Jaeil’s cinematic soundscapes to Chin Sooyoung’s piano recital. Once again, jazz becomes the language of freedom and creativity: sincere, improvisational, and uplifting.