Contemporary jazz pianist, keyboardist and composer, Peter Horvath has been perfecting his craft since the age of six when he began taking classical piano lessons. Born in Budapest, Hungary, he attended the Bela Bartok Conservatory of Music.
At age 17, he won the National Jazz Combo Competition in Hungary and two years later moved to Austria to attend the Vienna Conservatory of Music.
In 1983, Peter moved to the United States, where he studied at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. He has since performed, recorded and toured nationally and worldwide with a long line of world-class artist, including jazz greats Bobby Hutcherson, Joe Henderson, Richie Cole, Ernie Watts, Eddie Henderson, Charles McPherson, Benny Maupin, the Victor Bailey Group, Lenny White, Arturo Sandoval, Randy Brecker, Marcus Miller, Pee Wee Ellis Funk Assembly, Bob Mintzer, Bob Sheppard, Craig Handy, Tiger Okoshi, Lalah Hathaway, Melba Moore, Ledisi, Keith Washington, Rosie Gaines, Ray Obiedo, Pete Escovedo and the Oakland Symphony. Peter composed for and performed with David Garibaldi for his critically acclaimed Warner Brothers video/CD series and recorded the tracks for Aretha Franklin's performance of the National Anthem at the 1993 World Series.
Peter is currently on faculty at the California Jazz Conservatory, Saint Mary’s College of California and Stanford Jazz Consortium.
Peter Horvath's first solo recording, FOREIGN MATTER, has received enormous national contemporary jazz radio airplay. In its first week of release, it was the #1 most added recording to Gavin's Adult Alternative Chart and #2 most added to Radio & Record's NAC Chart.
His new album, ABSOLUTE REALITY, is featuring some of the greatest names in jazz, like Bob Mintzer, Randy Brecker, Victor Bailey, Lenny White, Dean Brown, the late Ricky Lawson, Ray Obiedo, Larry Kimpel, Walfredo Reyes,Jr, Karl Perazzo, Peter Michael Escovedo, and others. All original compositions, the music fuses a variety of elements from hard hitting funk jazz with horns, to pieces with latin and straight ahead jazz influences, along with some beautiful mid tempo tunes and ballads, even a solo piano performance to close the album with. The sound represents the musical diversity of the Bay Area along with the influences of years of touring and recording with some of the greats in jazz and beyond.
"It's all strong and accessible...impressive stuff"
Jazz Weekly / May, 2016
"CTI meets GRP...What a joy to listen to this album...a terrific soloist...a great artist."
Arnaldo DeSouteiro, Jazz Station - Fusion CD of the Month / March, 2016
"Horvath performs with the who-is-who of jazz... He has put his whole personality and passion into this work."
First View / Smooth Jazz Daily / January, 2016
"Completely, unapologetically pulsating, the foundation is definitely hardcore jazz...
a successful result when jazz and funk get going."
AXS / April, 2016
"Horvath has assembled a Jazz masterclass...Ten instrumentals of the highest quality"
Hearasingle.blogspot.co.uk/September, 2016
"The Hungarian born keyboardist demonstrates a flair for appealing hooks."
Jazz Times / Oct, 1995
"Honest-to-goodness contemporary cool with a sprinkle of straight ahead elan for a varied diet at the jazz table...He effortlessly communicates to listeners"
JAZZIZ / Dec, 1995
"Peter's brand of piano soul is light, accessible and glistening with chrome-plated funk chord changes."
Gavin, 1995
"This is a band (Peter Horvath Group with Randy Brecker) to be reckoned with"
Time Out - London / May, 2010