The name Kampec Dolores comes from an old Hungarian proverb used by village people. They say it when somebody dies. It means the end of pains. None of the words is Hungarian: Kampec is Yiddish (to be pronounced with a at the end), while Dolores is Latin.
The band plays since 1984. In the early days they supported Nico in Budapest (1985), played at Eastern Europe's first international alternative festival (Carrot Festival, Warsaw 1987), and were support act for the 12-country revival tour of legendary American band Pere Ubu in Europe (1988). Their first record was initiated by The Ex, who invited Kampec Dolores to record in Amsterdam and released the LP on the Konkurrel label (1988). Kampec Dolores toured in almost all the countries of Europe, about 30 times, from Spain to Moscow and from Sweden and Norway to Italy and Yugoslavia (1988/99). They made their North-American debut at the prestigious Victoriaville Festival in Canada ('99).
The musical evolution of Kampec Dolores started from the new rock self-made experimentalism of the mid-80's. Over the years the band came through a whole lot of ethnic, contemporary and improvisational influences. All the albums represent a different stage of the process. While the earlier ones mostly concentrated on songs, the point of Rapid (1996) was to create a larger construction, and a more free and associative playing as well. Singer Gabi has developed her own way of almost wordless singing. She uses unknown languages and unusual vocal techniques. The recent CD, which was released in October 2000 – entitled Sitting on the Buffalo - features both songs and composition pieces. The diversity of the influences, adopted in their own style, makes the group able to play for different audiences.
Kampec Dolores was formed in 1984 by Csaba HAJNÓCZY and Gabi KENDERESI. The band has been their main musical activity and no doubt it concentrates around their couple. Both of them are part of a recently emerging new band, Kiss Erzsi Music, and, together with Amy Denio (Seattle, USA) and Pavel Fajt (Brno, Czech Republic), of the Danubians. They are also regularly collaborating with outstanding Hungarian jazz composer/improviser István Grencsó. Gabi (voice, violin) appears on The Ex's Joggers and Smoggers album. Csaba (guitar, Midi-guitar controlled sampler,) played from 1980 to 83 in Kontroll Csoport (Control Group), one of the leading bands of Hungarian new rock of those years. Besides his group activities he also works as a composer of his own right.
Balázs Dongó SZOKOLAY (soprano saxophone, bagpipe and flutes), after an early period of blues, has played with various folk music ensembles, including the internationally acknowledged Vasmalom band, and also plays free improvised music with Dél-alföldi Saxophone Quartet.
Árpád VAJDOVICH (bass guitar), after his jazz studies in Budapest and Hilversum, NL, plays in various Hungarian jazz, rock and electronic acts. He's the bass player for Kiss Erzsi Music too.
András HALMOS (drums) plays with various jazz and rock groups.
István GRENCSÓ, one of Hungary’s most original saxophone players –as mentioned above – plays as a regular guest with Kampec Dolores.