Apáról fiúra 2026 – id. Jónás Géza és zenekara & ifj. Jónás Géza és zenekara, vendég: Roby Lakatos, Emilio

The “From Father to Son 2026” concert showcases the essence of Romani culture through music. It is a fresh and exciting experiment in blending traditional Romani coffeehouse music with contemporary jazz, as two bands will perform and come together on stage. One—led by the father, Géza Jónás Sr., on cimbalom—is a traditional café-style Romani band, while the other—led by the son, Géza Jónás Jr., on double bass—is a jazz band. They are joined by guest performers Roby Lakatos, a violin virtuoso, and Emilio, a Romani singer-rapper.

An evening where tradition and improvisation spring from the same heart.

There are melodies that are not born from sheet music, but are passed down through the generations—from a glance, a gesture, or a lifetime spent playing an instrument. The concert titled “From Father to Son” is not merely a meeting of two ensembles, but a dialogue between two generations in the same musical language.

In the first part of the evening, the elder cimbalom player Géza Jónás and his band evoke the world that has been one of the most important guardians of Hungarian and Romani musical culture for centuries: passion, virtuosity, pain, and celebration all at once.

In the second part, the younger Géza Jónás takes the stage with his jazz band, demonstrating how the spirit of Romani music lives on in the freedom of jazz, in improvisation, and in modern musical thinking.

For Gypsy music has never been a closed-off genre. It has always absorbed the sounds of the world—from Hungarian folk songs and classical music all the way to swing and jazz. That is precisely what this evening is about: how tradition becomes heritage, and heritage becomes a new language.

“From Father to Son” is not just a concert title.

It is a relay.

A sound that remains the same across generations—even when it resonates in a new rhythm.

Géza Jónás Sr. (cimbalom) and his band

Géza Jónás, a cimbalom player, is one of the outstanding musicians of our time. In 2020, he was awarded the Pro Cultura Minoritatum Hungariae prize. He is a role model for today’s generation of cimbalom players. His exceptional virtuosity, performance style, and humility toward music are unique. Over the course of his nearly 35-year career, he has performed with countless artists and at many venues. At the age of 11, he was accepted into the Rajkó Ensemble, which was then justly world-renowned and unique. He then continued his studies privately. He is dedicated to preserving Hungarian culture and Romani music. Students from all over the world attend his classes. He has performed with, among others, Miklós Lakatos, Ernő Kállai Kiss, Lajos Boross (the “King of Primás”), Roby Lakatos, the world-famous violinist, Lajos Sárközi, and Sándor Járóka. He has been invited to prestigious festivals in numerous countries. Last but not least, he brings good cheer with him every time, to every band. He has lived in Józsefváros since the age of 14.

Géza Jónás Jr. (double bass) and his band

This young talent, who has now become one of the busiest double bassists of his generation, caught the industry’s attention at a very early age. In 2013, he was accepted into the Snétberger Music Talent Center, and a year later, in 2014, as the bassist for the János Egri Jr. Quartet, he received a special award at the International Student Jazz Competition in Marosvásárhely. In January 2017, he reached the finals of the Hungarian Jazz Federation’s “Young Jazz Musician of the Year” talent competition—held for the second time—as a double bass student at the Talentum School of Dance and Music. In May of that year, at the 1st Downtown Jazz Competition, he performed with the “Young” quartet led by saxophonist Kálmán Oláh Jr., Balázs Horváth (piano), Balázs Varga (guitar), Géza Jónás (double bass), and his younger brother Fülöp Jónás (drums), won the award for Best Band. In January 2018, as part of the BJC’s 10th-anniversary concert series, as a member of the Kálmán Oláh Jr. Quartet (Kálmán Oláh Jr. – alto saxophone, János Egri Jr. – piano, Géza Jónás – double bass, András Márkosi – drums), he got a taste of the special atmosphere of the club’s sold-out concerts. In November 2021, he won the 1st Aladár Pege Jazz Double Bass Competition.