Krisztián oláh quartet | jazz quartet

Krisztián Oláh is a genre-spanning musician, composer, and pianist whose artistry has earned him recognition as one of Hungary’s most inventive musical voices, including the Junior Prima, Artisjus, and Orszáczky Awards. His creative vision finds its fullest expression in the Oláh Krisztián Quartet, which has become one of the most exciting formations on the Hungarian scene by blending jazz, classical, and contemporary music, combining his own compositions with collective improvisation, spontaneity, and the dynamic interplay of its members.

Oláh’s most important musical venture is his quartet, featuring Kálmán Oláh (saxophone), Marcell Gyányi (double bass), and Dániel Serei (drums). Beyond being the main vehicle for Krisztián’s own compositions, the quartet thrives on collective improvisation, spontaneity, and the creative energy of all four members, yielding a fresh and complex sound world.

A turning point in his artistic outlook came in 2020, when he began formal composition studies at the Liszt Academy. Compared to his debut recording At the Back of My Mind (2020), the follow-up Crescendo (2022) documents a shift from instinctive writing towards greater structural awareness. In spring 2023 the quartet released its third album, Music for 24/7, featuring the iconic British horn section TRYPL Horns (Ryan Quigley, Paul Booth, Trevor Mires). The expanded seven-piece ensemble premiered the program to a sold-out audience at the House of Music Hungary.

His fourth album, Perspectives of Verve, recorded in autumn 2024, reflects a deepening engagement with classical and contemporary composition. This influence is evident in the architecture of the pieces, the approach to performance, and the structure of the improvisations.