During the summer of 1956, Ernest Nagy, an employee at the American Legation in Budapest, secretly recorded several Hungarian jazz musicians in a studio. These tapes were later smuggled into the United States and delivered to Willis Conover, the renowned host at Voice of America.

The Hungarian Revolution against the communist regime broke out on 23rd October 1956, an uprising eventually suppressed by Soviet forces. On 23 November 1956, Conover broadcast the smuggled recordings on his radio programme. Jazz legends including Quincy Jones, Gerry Mulligan, Tony Scott, J.J. Johnson, and Billy Taylor provided commentary, unaware if any of the musicians they heard had survived the turmoil. To mark the 60th anniversary of the revolution, these recordings were released under the title “Revolutionary Jazz”.

Now, on the 70th anniversary of the uprising, acclaimed jazz guitarist István Gyárfás and his ensemble Guitar Madness bring this music to Estonian audiences. The performance serves as a tribute to those historic events and honours the memory of both Hungarian and Estonian heroes.

The concert pays special respect to Enn Uibo, Enn Tarto, and every Estonian friend of Hungary who stood for freedom in 1956 and subsequently suffered under Soviet repressions.

Organised by Vanemuine Concert Hall, the Liszt Institute Tallinn and MTÜ Loovüksus.