Exposed

About the Artist
Born in 1973, Kalman Magyar (nicknamed "Öcsi") grew up in a New Jersey home filled with folklore, the son of immigrants who were catalysts for Hungarian dance groups, bands, festivals, concerts, workshops, newsletters, and museums. Raised in this environment, it was only natural that Kálmán began playing violin at the age of five, schooled not only in the traditional Hungarian style but in classical and jazz music as well. He grew up on the stage - dancing, playing and singing - and, by the age of twelve, became a sought-after, diverse and energetic performer. He was accepted into the prestigious Preparatory Division of Manhattan School of Music, where he studied with Stanley Bednar for 9 years.

Kálmán eagerly finished high school early to enter Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, and was awarded a full scholarship to perform with the world-famous Tamburitzans. With nearly 300 nationwide shows under his belt over four years, Kálmán graduated from the Business School with honors. By this time, feeding off the folkloric atmosphere around him - quite different from the Hungarian one he had grown up in - Kálmán had crossed over musical borders and immersed himself into "all things Balkan."

Leaving college life behind in 1995, Kálmán studied at Brooklyn Law School while maintaining a demanding performance schedule. This balancing act continues today; Kálmán is a full-time litigation attorney, travels throughout North America to perform on a regular basis, and leads the Életfa Hungarian Folk Ensemble and the Continental Dance Orchestra, both with active gig schedules. Kálmán also routinely performs with DalamDougou (Afro-Hungarian groove-based music), Equinox (a rock band), Skitnice (Canada-based Croatian band), and has appeared with the Mark Morris Dance Group, Kálmán Balogh Gypsy Band, Ökrös Ensemble, Harmonia, Beyond the Pale, Caravan Gypsy Jazz Trio, Cheres, Zabava, Veseli, Junaci, and Zlatne Uste Balkan Brass Band.

Kálmán has been invited to audition for Cirque du Soleil, and has shared the stage with other renowned world music artists such as Márta Sebestyén, Alexander Fedoriouk, Jerry Grcevich, Beth Bahia Cohen, Dénes Hruz, Vjeko Dimter, Adam Good, Dorel Zamfir, Matt Moran, Mark and Kruno Spisic, Vuk Kandic, Marko Dreher, András Berecz, Peter and David Kosovec, Miqueu "Michel" Montanaro, Paul Brown, and Ivan Milev.

Kálmán's musical journey spans several genres - folk, jazz, classical, gypsy, rock - but remains centered on the folk music of Eastern and Central Europe. He has appeared at venues such as Epcot Center, Library of Congress, B.B. King's Blues Club (NYC), Alice Tully Hall (Lincoln Center), Knitting Factory (NYC), Place-des-Arts (Montréal), Bitter End (NYC), New Jersey State Theater, Tonic (NYC), Brooklyn Academy of Music, Satalla (NYC), Liberty State Park, Tennessee Performing Arts Center (Nashville), Living Arts Centre (Mississauga), Town Hall (NYC), Heinz & Benedum Halls (Pittsburgh), and with the Christmas Revels on Broadway (at Symphony Space). Kálmán has performed in Brazil, Venezuela and Hungary, and has appeared in countless cities throughout North America, including San Diego, Miami, Chicago, Cleveland, New Orleans, Toronto, San Francisco, Boston, Montreal and Calgary. His media credits include live television apperances (CBS's Sunday Morning, WNBC News Programs), in-studio radio broadcasts (at WQXR and WFMU), and two film soundtracks. He is an instructor and arranger of Hungarian, Romanian and Balkan music and dance at workshops, camps, and seminars throughout the United States and Canada.

Critics have called Kalman's playing "formidable, with a sharp attack and lots of clean little ornaments" (Rootsworld); "dazzling" yet "soulful and irresistible" (Elderly Instruments); and "pure, shining musicianship" (CDBaby). A sampling of the albums he has performed on include: Crossing Paths [with Alexander Fedoriouk] (Folk Sounds Records); Gyökereink [with Eletfa] (Hungaria Records); The World in Our Ba

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