Peter Horvath

Peter Horvath

Contemporary jazz pianist/keyboardist and composer, Peter Horvath has been perfecting his craft since the age of 6 when he began taking classical piano lessons. Born in Budapest, Hungary, he attended the Bela Bartok Conservatory of Music. Son of famous Hungarian singer Zsuzsa Matrai, Peter had a natural and intense desire for music. At age 17, he won the National Jazz Combo Competition in Gyor, Hungary, and two years later he moved to Austria to attend the Vienna Conservatory of Music. Establishing himself rather quickly in the Austrian jazz scene, he began playing and touring with jazz notables, such as Leo Wright, Louie Austen, etc.

In 1983, Peter moved to the U.S., where he studied at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. He has since performed, toured, and recorded with a long line of world-class artists. He toured with jazz greats Bobby Hutcherson, Joe Henderson, Richie Cole, Benny Maupin, Bob Sheppard, and Tiger Okoshi. He recorded, performed, and toured with the Victor Bailey Group, Lalah Hathaway, Keith Washington, Rosie Gaines, Ray Obiedo, Kenneth Nash, J. Spencer, the Braxton Brothers, and the Oakland Symphony. Peter composed for and performed with David Garibaldi for his Warner Brothers video/CD series, and recorded the tracks for Aretha Franklin's performance of the National Anthem at the 1993 World Series.

Peter Horvath's first solo recording, "Foreign Matter", (Lake Street Records) has received enormous national contemporary jazz radio airplay. In its first week of release, it was the #1 most added recording to Gavin's Adult Alternative Chart, and #2 most added to Radio & Record's NAC Chart.

Peter's talent as a pianist/keyboardist is matched by his role as a composer and producer. Horvath's diverse background is manifested in his performances and compositions, with both complexity and clarity . . . from straight ahead to funk to contemporary jazz. Performing with a passion, and heightened by his fiery personality, he uses every ounce of energy to convey his finely crafted compositions. Horvath is a serious artist with more than mere entertainment in mind, combining appealing melodies with plenty of sound for thought.

Peter's brand of piano soul is light, accessible and glistening with chrome-plated funk chord changes. (Gavin, 1995)

The Hungarian-born keyboardist demonstrates a flair for appealing hooks. (Jazz Times / Oct. 1995)

Honest-to-goodness contemporary cool with a sprinkle of straight ahead elan for a varied diet at the jazz table . . . He effortlessly communicates to listeners. (JAZZIZ / Dec. 1995)