Cologne Jazzweek: Zucker Gyárfás

Gabriel Zucker is a songwriter, composer, pianist, and multi-instrumentalist from New York. His work combines “maximalist” compositions, intimate songwriting, virtuoso metrical complexity, innovative production, and progressive improvisation—something that can only emerge in New York. Attila Gyárfás studied drums in The Hague. Born in Hungary, he first explored rock and metal before moving on to jazz-rock, eventually settling on a style of jazz that bridges modern and avant-garde.

Zucker and Gyárfás met in New York in 2017 and decided to make music together. Although they live on different continents, they develop a unique synergy as a duo that manifests itself in an intuitive and anticipatory interplay. Sometimes they play only with piano and a hi-fi system; other times they perform in a minimalist style with just drums, synthesizer, and speakers: As a duo, they feel at home in any sound setting, no matter how bizarre.