|
  Kal is a new hip Gypsy band from
Serbia. This band is truly hot and reached the top of
the European World Music Charts in April 2006. Their sound on
Kal (Asphalt
Tango, 2006) is truly innovative, combining Gypsy folk melodies, rhythms and
instruments with rock instrumentation and electronic grooves. The music is
refreshing and captivating. The band is made up of a half-dozen musicians from
all
over Serbia, who perform regularly in Belgrade and have frequently toured
Europe. Kal will
launch a new tour, beginning in late April and lasting two months. They will be
appearing in many Western European cities. See this site for the schedule:
www.asphalt-tango.de/kal/artist.html
The Asphalt Tango label specializes in Gypsy music from Central and Eastern
Europe. Up to now, most of the music released by the label has been contemporary
recordings by current artists. On
Sounds from a Bygone Age, Vol. 1, Asphalt Tango have reissued one of
the gems of Romanian Gypsy music of the 1970s. Violinist Petre Stoican recorded
this album in the 1970s with some of the finest Gypsy musicians from the
Bucharest scene. Stoican's violin plays spectacular solos, some of the best
fiddling I've heard in years.
Gypsy brass bands have grown in popularity and
Boban
Markovic leads one of
the best. On
The Promise (Piranha, 2005), Markovic plays primarily original
music, contemporary pieces, inspired by Balkan folk, using the flugelhorn and
trumpet as the lead instruments, accompanied by trumpet, tenor horns, helicon,
drums and darbuka. The album also features Boban's son, Marko, who has become
one of the new stars of Balkan Gypsy music.
It looks like Asphalt Tango stumbled upon a gold mine in the archives of
Electrorecord Bucharest in Romania. Another treasure reissued by the
German label is
Sounds From a Bygone Age 2 by the legendary Romanian singer Romica Puceanu. This
recording is from 1964 and it sounds unbelievably good. Puceanu is accompanied
by the Gore Brothers.
Orkestina is a Spain-based group formed by musicians from various countries
who share an interest in Balkan music. Several of the musicians are Eastern
Europeans, who provide an authentic flavor, using clarinet, fiddle, gadulka and
other instruments, supported by a powerful trap drum and acoustic bass
foundation.
Positivity (World Village, 2005), their latest CD, is original instrumental
music, incorporating a rich variety of Eastern European Gypsy sounds, Balkan
dances and Klezmer influences.
 For fans of Gypsy fiddle, ARC Music has released
Master of the Russian Gypsy Violin by Oleg Ponomarev. The virtuoso Russian Gypsy violinist is now based in
the UK. Ponomarev is known for as part of Russian bands Loyko and
Koshka. The
music selection includes original pieces and modern arrangements of Russian and
Moldovan songs.
Hungary has a considerable Gypsy population and Ternipe is one of the young
bands that has joined the scene. On
Hungarian Gypsy Music the creative group features a traditional
Hungarian Gypsy format with guitars, accordion and milk jugs, accompanying well
crafted female and male lead vocals and harmonies.
Italian band Municipale Balcanica draws its inspiration from Eastern European
Gypsy and Klezmer music. Their sound is unconventional, zany at times. The group
combines clarinet and brass with a powerful rhythm section and electric
instruments. For more information about the band and album go to
www.municipalebalcanica.it.
Related stories:
|
