Szalóky Béla

Szalóky Béla

tb, fh,
Musician / Conductor of Jazz

Hungarian jazz trombonist, police major, conductor of the Orchestra of the Hungarian Police Special Force, member of the Benkó Dixieland Band. Master of Arts degree in jazz at „Liszt Ferenc” Academy of Music in Budapest (1995). Often described as a „multiphonic artist”, since -besides the trombone- he also plays the flugelhorn, the trumpet, the cornet, the valve-trombone, the euphonium, the bass-trumpet, the Es-Althorn, the tuba. Mr. Szalóky is primarily a mainstream, swing player, but he often performs in bands playing traditional jazz, as well. Also experienced in bebop jazz and contemporary composition music. Started his career in Heptone Dixieland Jazz Band, which he himself was the leader of. Later -as a member of Oldsmobile Dixieland Jazz Band- he started to perform all around the World. He played in Gran Canaria, in the USA, almost every major city in Europe, even on the Mauritius Island. His career continued in Hot Jazz Band. With them Mr. Szalóky played several times in concerts in France as partcipants of jazz festivals. The Band was 1st Prize winner of the „International Louis Armstrong” Competition in Le Havre commemorating the 50th anniversary of D-day. He was a member of the Budapest Ragtime Band, which is one of the oldest hungarian traditional bands. He was making tours with the BRB in Europe and in the United States of America. Played with Jiggs Whigham as the first trombonist of Trombone Workshop 3/4 9, a band of five trombonists. In 1998,as the lead trombonist of the Hungarian Jazz Trombone Company he made an album with the american jazz-trombone phenomen Carl Fontana. He was playing on the International Trombone Festival 2000 (ITF2000), played with the famous METROPOLE ORCHESTRA, worked together with Ed Neumeister, Bill Reichenbach, Bart Van Lier, Vince Mendoza, Mike Abene, Tommy Vig, Terry Woodson, Mike Smith, Edwin Morgan, Bill Miller (Frank Sinatra’s piano player for 46 Years), Bob Chmel, Walt Johnson, Jim Fox, Paul Rostock, Jeff Morrison, Jim Fox. He was working also with Mr. Frank Sinatra Jr. Participated in several concerts jam session all around the world together with stars like Joe Muranyi, Mike Vax, Frank Foster, George Benson, Tommy Sanders, John Allred, Tomas Stanko, Stjepko Gut, Christian Muthspiel, Vladimir Tarasov, Birelli Lagrene, Mark Fosset, Marcel Zanini, Acker Bilk, Irakli....and many others. In 2007 has played with his all-time favorit tenor-monster Scott Hamilton. He played with all key Hungarian jazz artists (Csaba Deseő, Béla "Szakcsi Lakatos, Imre Kőszegi, Géza „Pecek” Lakatos, Babos Gyula, Rudolf Tomsits, Aladár Pege, Kati Bontovics, Dezső „Ablakos” Lakatos, Tamás Berki, Attila László, János Fogarasi, Kálmán Oláh, Vilmos Jávori...and many others). Regular guest of Benkó Dixieland Band. Currently Mr. Szalóky is the conductor of the ORCHESTRA OF THE HUNGARIAN POLICE SPECIAL FORCE, run his own band, the SZALOKY CLASSIC JAZZ BAND and play with the TRIO GYARFAS. In 2008 Mr Szaloky came to be a member of the BENKO DIXIELAND BAND.