Michael Manring/Sándor Szabó - Inner Smile

Michael Manring & Sándor Szabó Duo: Inner Smile Two different instruments, but two resumes with astonishing parallels: Guitarist Sándor Szabó studied at the Budapest Conservatory, bassist Michael Manring went to the Boston Berklee College of Music.

Szabó earned respect and recognition thanks to his collaborations with guitarists like Gilbert Isbin, Véronique Gillet and Andreas Georgious, Manring’s star began shining during his work with the acoustic guitar visionary Michael Hedges. Since 2005, the Californian and Hungarian have entertained a convivial creative partnership that has now engendered “Inner Smile”, Manring’s highly expressive performance on the fretless bass forms the perfect backdrop and harmonic complement to the composed chord sequences of Szabó’s baritone guitar. At the same time, the two virtuosos leave enough space for each other to go off on some outstanding solo excursions. With their perfectly individual stylistic mix of atmospheric New Age music, contemporary jazz and experimental music, their complex performance is always in the service of an album that will keep drawing a smile from the listener over and over again.