Bluesmen's World(Music)

Nikitov is one of the best of the new Yiddish folksong ensembles. This is something seen far more often in Europe than in the US, where one might see Celtic folk band almost any night of the week, but Jewish folk has largely been relegated to a few numbers by a wedding band. On the other hand, neither is this a reworking of Yiddish folk music in new idiom, as say, Golem or Khevre, or for that matter German bands such as Aufwind. Rather, this is a very well-done collection of beautifully sung Yiddish folk songs from Europe, from America, including Yiddish theatre favorites, backed by an excellent group of musicians. And, just as American Jewish wedding bands will throw in the occasional Yiddish tune, here, the band takes on a couple of delightful violin/guitar/bass klezmer improvisations. Rather nice, that, too.

Singer Niki Jacobs manages to impart a sweet, folky, compelling style that even embraces one of the few bearable version of "Shabes, Shabes", a song otherwise high on my top ten songs never to hear again. By eschewing theatre flash and renewing the song in folk idiom, she similarly makes "Bai mir bistu sheyn" bearable and gives new life and gravity to "Az der rebe", a song original written as a satire against Hasidim. Her version of "Mayn rue plats", Morris Rosenfeld's lament to the horrible working conditions in New York sweatshops, is the best I have heard since Miriam Dvorin's recording 20 years ago, with "Umru mayne" heartbreakingly beautiful. There is no particularly rare material on this CD. What is rare is the assurance and tightness of the arrangements, and the aural excellence of the result. This is the best Yiddish folk music I have heard since the Pete Rushefsky/Becky Kaplan CD earlier this year and is very much on par with that recording. What a pleasure!

01. Sha shtil (Leo Kopf)
02. Shabes (anon.)
03. Bai mir bistu sheyn (words: J. Jacobs; music: S. Secunda)
04. Bessarabyanka (trad., arr. Nikitov)
05. Mayn rue plats (Morris Rosenfeld)
06. Di Mizinke Oysgegebn (M. M. Warshawsky)
07. Shloimele, malkele (words: I. Lillian; music: J. Rumshinsky)
08. Di Krenetse (words: I. Fefer; music: S. Polonski)
09. Umru mayne (words: M.L. Halpern; music: B. Jomen)
10. Az der rebe (trad.)
11. Yankele (M. Gebirtig)
12. Reyzele (M. Gebirtig)
13. Dona, dona (words: A.Zeitlin; music: S. Secunda)

Niki Jacobs: vocals
Jelle van Tongeren: violin
Adam Good: acoustic guitar
Jason Sypher: acoustic bass

Link

Bringing together Bartók's folk music collections and his classical compositions to create a new living tradition in Hungarian folk music. This unique project could only be achieved by Hungary's foremost folk ensemble, Muzsikás.

They are joined by Márta Sebestyén and Romanian born classical violinist Alexander Blanescu. Together they recreate what Bartók heard, how he incorporated this in his own compositions and how a Muzsikás themselves interpret the music.

"Now, when I work with Muzsikas ensemble, I feel that something important is happening to me. I can feel just how important for me is the cultural background against which I grew up, the area from where I came."

"This CD is an exploration of the close relationship between the composer Béla Bartók and folk music. It is an exploration seen through the eyes of the Muzsikás group. In our CD, we are searching for the answer, what is it in folk music, that attracted Bartók like a magnet?"


01. Elindultam a hazámból / I left my homeland
02. Mérai lassú csárdás és szapora / Dances of Kalotaszeg
03. Pásztornóták hosszúfurulyán / Long flute melodies
04. Forgácskóti legényes / Lads' dance called "Forgácskúti"
05. Pejparipám rézpatkója / The shoe of my horse
06. Bartók Béla: 28. duó "Bánkódás" / Béla Bartók: Duo No 28. "Sorrow"
07. Bonchidai ritka magyar / Slow dance of Lads' from Bonchida
08. Porondos víz martján / At the waterside
09. Kanásztáncok két hegedűn / Swinheards' dance
10. Jocul barbatesc
11. Bartók Béla: 32. duó "Máramarosi tánc" / Béla Bartók: Duo No 32
12. Máramarosi táncok / Dances of Máramaros
13. Botos tánc "Jocul cu bata" / Bota
14. Torontáli táncok / Dances of Torontál
15. Ardeleana
16. Bartók Béla: 44. duó "Erdélyi tánc" / "Transylvanian Dance"
17. Füzesi ritka magyar / Lads' dance from Füzes
18. Pe loc
19. Magyarbecei öreges csárdások / Music of Magyarbece
20. Dunántúli ugrósok / Transdanubian "ugrós"
21. Dunántúli friss csárdások / Fast csárdás
22. A temető kapu / Churchyard gate

Mihály Sipos - violin
Péter Éri - viola, violin, kaval, guitar, percussion
László Porteleki - violin
Dániel Hamar - double bass, little cimbalom, beat gardon, percussion

Featuring:
Márta Sebestyén - voice
Balanescu Alexander - violin
János Köles Kovács - tambur
Zoltán Juhász - long flute
Márton Éri - cello
Zoltán Porteleki - cimbalom
Ildikó Tóth - dance
Zoltán Farkas - beat gardon, drum, dance

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"This fine French guitarist and oud player has gathered a delightful group of singers and players to explore the highways and byways of Gypsy music. The sounds of Western and Eastern Europe, of Pakistan and India, and of North Africa all join beautifully on this excellent CD. From out of the east come the memorable female vocalist Gulabi Sapera and tabla maestro Hameed Khan. The powerful flamenco voices of Paco el Lobo and Bruno and Mambo Saadana meld with well-played guitars, oud, accordion, frame drums, palmas, and the occasional clarinet for an inspired and bracing set of tunes. Liner notes in English, French, and Spanish translate lyrics that celebrate life, face death unflinchingly, and speak of the mothers' tears that link this world to the next."

"One of the most interesting French gypsy guitarists today"

""Gitans" was not only ranked as one of the best albums of the year by critics around the world, but it is widely considered one of the best albums of Gypsy music ever recorded."

01. Leito dje dje (trad.)
02. La petite mer (J. Saadna/T. Robin)
03. Pundela (trad.)
04. Payo michto (T. Robin)
05. Martinetes y debla (Trad./P. Garfias/J. del Encina)
06. Mehdi (T. Robin)
07. Katchur khan (trad.)
08. Hommage à Matelo
09. Cuivre (P. el lobo/trad./T. Robin)
10. Kurja (trad.)
11. Marraine (T. Robin)
12. Patchiv (T. Robin/trad.)
13. La famille (T. Robin)
14. Rumba do vesou (T. Robin)
15. Leito dje dje (trad.)

Thierry "Titi" Robin: guitar, 'ud, bouzouki
Gulabi Sapera: vocals
Paco el Lobo: vocals, palmas
Joseph "Mambo" Saadna: vocals, guitar, palmas
Amar "Bruno" Saadna: vocals, guitar, palmas
François Castiello: accordion / Bernard Subert: clarinet, bagpipes
Abdelkrim Sami: bendir tehti, darbouka
Hameed Khan: tablas
Francis-Alfred Moerman: guitar
Mahabub Khan: vocals

Link

Vents D'est is a collaboration between the ensembles Ghymes and Vujicsics and is led by French musician Michel Montanero.
So many excellent musicians on one recording! Composer-musician M. Montanaro, with Vents d’Est, rewrites the geographical map of Europe with jazz and folk music, Czech, Slovak, Serb, Hungarian or French violins and harmonies are laced sometimes with swing sometimes with sacred music.

01. Dansa De L'Ors
02. Lettre Ouverte
03. Verdict
04. Arnaut Guilhem
05. Horo Na Gore
06. Viatge Marcha
07. Planh Dei Bomians
08. Dansa
09. Dama Lombarda
10. Leandre & Innocent
11. Prelude
12. Lavida No Tiene Sentido
13. Lamort de Maurin
14. Farandola Rasta
15. La Peur

Musicians:
Szarka Tamás - violin
Ökrös Csaba - violin
Borbély Mihály - clarinet, saxophone
Horváth Zoltán - tambura, cselló-tambura
Buják Andor - viola, clarinet
Béhr László - cimbalom
Eredics Gábor - accordion, tambura
Buják Krisztián - clarinet
Szendrődi Ferenc - tambura
Eredics Kálmán - double bass
Szarka Gyula - double bass
Aledo Pedro - guitar
Miquéu Montanaro - galube, tamburin, flutes
Gulserem Yildrim - voice
Pedro Aledo - voice
René Sette - voice

Link

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"Saban Bajramovic lived a complex life and it is reflected in the music he creates. His passion for life and his unique life experiences are evident in both the music and the lyrics. He is produces original melodies with outstanding improvisations that mirror the special talents of this rare human being. He uses Balkan rhythms and melodies within a jazz motif to tease the listener -- who is drawn immediately to the rhythm, the spectacular combination of instruments. He incorporates traditional instruments as well as modern ones, mimicking the ancient Balkan brass bands from the turn of the century, plus using the accordion to create the gajde-like (bagpipe) sound of the past. The clarinet often reigns supreme with improvisaitons that leave the listener breathless. His voice is mellow, distinctive and has a smokey, sensual sound. He wrote most of the lyrics and music on this CD. So far it is my favorite CD of his. Most of the songs are in the Roma language but a few are in the Serbo-Croatian language.

CD CONTENTS: Track #1 "Jasmina" has a special violin accompaniment that is worth hearing ..."Hanuma" includes the traditional instruments, "bassprim 1" and "bassprim 2" along with percussion, violin, rhythm guitar, trumpet and accordion. It truly is a fine example of music from the Balkans. Track #5, "Pena" is outstanding and was selected to be included in the "Gypsy Caravan" CD by Putumayo. Saban fell in love with a girl in Sofia, Bulgaria, he kissed her and she suddenly left him ... disappeared like soap foam. He dedicates the song to her. I am particularly fond of the music and melody of #14, "Pitao sam malog puza" which is about a little snail, who is asked to sell his house to the singer. The snail reminds the singer that he squandered his money in gambling and card games and could have had enough to buy a house. He begs the little snail to take pity on him, it is fall time, the weather is cold, and the singer's luck ran out, his lover does not want him. One of the most important songs on this CD is, "Pelo Me Sam" which was written while Saban Bajramovic was languishing in jail ... when he did not know if he would survive the experience, live or die. It is written in the true gypsy tradition based on life experiences that were difficult but which look to the future with some glimmer of hope and survival ... nonetheless ... he accepts that his fate is in the hands of G-d, who determines all outcomes. Most highly recommended for anyone interested in Balkan, Gypsy, Serbo-Croatian, or improvisational jazz music."

01. Jasmina
02. Pelno Me Sam
03. Hanuma
04. Avaj, Avaj Mo Cavo
05. Pena
06. Sila Kale Bal
07. Djeli Mara
08. Opa Cupa
09. Djelem, Djelem
10. Boza, Limunada
11. Dade, Dade
12. I Barval Pudela
13. Sajbija
14. Pitao Sam Malog Puza

Link

Armenia doesn't have a sea exit, actually doesn't have sea at all, but seems they have a Navy Band... And in the disc, they're creating an unique sensation between the ethnic & jazz, sounding like in the ocean, deep pure & blue. Enjoy it!!!!!

1. Martoon Shishuh
2. Low Shoulder
3. Malkhas Alkhber
4. Already the Boat is Starting to Move
5. Turkey Running from the Table
6. Dry Road
7. Oor eh Peliculan
8. Bzdik Zinvor

Link

"Elemér Balázs is one of Hungary's best known jazz drummers. Three years ago he invited six of his colleagues, all fine musicians in their own right, to form the Elemér Balázs Group, and they have become a highly acclaimed band by now... The Group has been touring Hungary extensively, and they are regularly invited to festivals not only in their home country but abroad as well. ... The group is striving to create their own sound characterised mainly by the contrast of the female and male voices. In their music they mix ethnic songs with original compositions."

"Elemér Balázs is one of the best drummers around right now, in my opinion. He plays with such musicality and finesse and has the ability to listen inside each musical moment with the kind of spontaneous decision - making that allows everyone that plays with him to sound their best. He also has a wonderful touch on the instrument - I always enjoy the chance to play with him and to hear him."

01. Menyecske, menyecske
02. Végigmentem a lónai nagyutcán
03. Lányok ülnek a toronyban
04. Szózat Katitzához a férfiak ügyiben
05. A nagy hegyeken túl
06. Árva madár
07. Arra kértem az én jóistenemet
08. Kivel háltál az éjjel
09. Szeretőm e táncba
10. A nagy erdő meséje

Musicians:
Gábor Winand - vocals
Elemér Balázs - drums
Gábor Juhász - guitars
Klára Hajdu - vocals
Péter Glaser - double bass
András Dés - percussion
József Balázs - piano

Guests:
Bea Palya - vocals
Ágnes Szalóki - vocals

Link

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"Balval is an astonishingly modern take on the musical language of the gypsies. Balval, a youthful and fiery quartet, co-opts the traditional melodies of Eastern Europe and the Balkans and swirls them with jazz, blues, rock and folk. The result is a multicultural, multilingual world music that begs to be heard. In fact, no one makes music quite like Balval. In an ideal world, the quartet will do for Eastern European music what the Buena Vista Social Club has done for Cuba, or what Tinariwen has done for music of the Sahara.

It doesn't take long to hear how the sounds from different modern genres exert themselves on Blizzard Boheme. Eastern European and gypsy traditions quickly morph into something fresh and fun, as on "Tango," which becomes a coy frolic thanks to Awena Burgess' tart singing. The brooding "Keren, Chavorale, Drom" is sultry, very bluesy and a little playful. "Blues" is almost Chet Baker-esque in its languorous sweetness. "Liza" sounds like Leonard Cohen as filtered through the eyes of a Romanian gypsy.

There are experimental overtones here as well, with hints of Laurie Anderson, the Kronos Quartet and other adventurous artists. It's a credit to Balval that they can conjure up the spirit of those souls while at the same time remaining grounded in their unique neo-gypsy niche. Nothing is sacred. Everything is fair game when playing by their rules, which is basically not following any rules at all. The musical freedom is liberating.

In perpetrating this gorgeous chaos, Burgess is accompanied by violinist Rosalie Hartog, guitarist Daniel Mizrahi, bassist Benjamin Body, and percussionist Bachar Khalife. Together, the noise is brisk and blissful, crisp in performance and full of energy. The songs are sung in a variety of languages, from the Roma language, which is a beautiful mix of eastern chant and western vernacular, to Bulgarian, Hungarian, and Serbian. In fact, you can find Balval's Blizzard Boheme at the crossroads of all these marvelous and colorful cultures. "Balval" means "the Wind."

01.Ado Chavo [Hungary]
02.Dumbala Dumba [Romania]
03.Aman Lelo [Bulgaria/Azerbaijan]
04.Tango [Moldavian Hora]
05.Sude Phabaj [Hungary/Romania]
06.Liza [Hungary]
07.Jekha Chaja [Serbia]
08.Keren, Chavorale, Drom [Hungary]
09.Corro Som [Transylvanian Plain]
10.Cirikli [Albania]
11.Smelka [Russia]
12.Blues [Hungary]
13.An La Devla [Balkans]
14.Loli Rokla [Czech Republic]

Awena Burgess (vocals)
Daniel Mizrahi (guitar)
Rosalie Hartog (violin)
Benjamin Body (double bass)

Guest:
Bachar Khalife (percussions)

Link

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"We released Rege in both Hungary and Slovakia in 1998. I think that every reader would have to listen to it because it is difficult to characterise, so every reader should judge for themselves... ...Bernadett's appearance on the album, who is from the south of Hungary, because we had seen her win a competition for folk music vocalists on TV. Since then, she has appeared on our last two albums. In my opinion she has a very interesting voice, which is exactly what we need... I like the voice of Márta Sebestyén very much. Bernadett's voice is different, but for me, as good as Marta's. We instantly felt that Tánc a hóban [Dance in the Snow - on which Bernadett appears] would be the "hit" off Rege. We are very glad that this slow romantic song did become very popular."

"This world music album from the Ghymes Group will most probably raise the number of their already large group of fans. The black cover hides a colorful musical material that adjusts the Central-European folk traditions to the musical tendencies of the world. The “Dance in the snow” by Tamás Szarka to be found on the album is a beautiful folk-rock composition."

01. Rege
02. Bazsarózsa
03. "33"
04. Jézus ágyán
05. Azért ne bánkódjál
06. Eskü
07. Bujdosó dal
08. Ej, de igen nagy kár
09. Ne nézz hátra
10. Tánc a hóban
11. Csönd
12. Fennen hordod

Musicians:
Andor Buják - viola, saxophon, double bass, flute, turkish pipe, chorus, saxophon, clarinet, flute
Krisztián Buják - horns, drums, clarinet, saxophon, flute
Gyula Szarka - voice, guitar, lute, double bass, chorus
Tamás Szarka - voice, double bass, lute, guitars, violin, chorus

Guests:
Péter Farnbauer - synthesizer
Bernadett Kiss - voice
Galántai Magyar Tanítási Nyelvu Alapiskola Gyermekkórusa - voice
Kálmán Eredics - tarabuka
Gábor Eredics - accordian
János Lau - percussion

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"For those who have seen "Black Cat, White Cat" or "Underground" from Emir Kusturica or heard the music of Taraf de Haiduks or the Boban Markovic Orkestar I guarantee that our melodies will strike a tone of familiarity. The band formed in the spring of 2006. The members are passionate balkan-music fans. In our music the most significant thing is the presence and lead role of the cymbalom. The other lead instrument is the accordion. The harmony produced by these two instruments and the mixture of accompaniment ultimately define our sound. In our repertoire you can find the "jewels" of Balkan and Hungarian melodies. Our songs are mostly tunes from Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Serbia and Croatia."

Balkan and gypsy music is getting popular at clubs, festivals and pubs, according to the CimbaliBand, most of whose members are not Roma. They play Gypsy, Hungarian and Balkans music focused on the cimbalom, a stringed instrument struck with light hammers, and the accordion.

"Gypsy music is on the rise if you can do it in a way which gets it across to the audience."

1. Ciganskolo
2. Velencei álom - Venezian Dream
3. Ez a világ - This is the World
4. Siciliana Karsilama
5. Selyemcsárdás - Silk-csardas
6. Oppadirida
7. Lautar din Bacau - The Violinist of Bacau
8. Megyek az úton - I Walk on the Way
9. Oriental Mahala

Balázs Unger - cimbalom, voice
Wertetics Szlobodán - accordeon
Gellért Boda - violin, viola
Krisztián Rodek - tambura, derbuka
Péter Pataj - double bass

Guests:
Eszter Szita - voice
István Pál "Szalonna" - violin, vocal
Gergő Unger - electric guitar

Link

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„One could hardly write with more sensitivity about the treasures we have inherited from past centuries, kept alive – among others – by folklore. Such are the folksongs and folk ballads passed down from generation to generation, dedicated to momentary and at the same time ageless emotions, destinies and events. Not only the beauty of the melodies, the refined and forever valid lyrics are fascinating, but also the whole body of traditions and beliefs hidden between the lines. These ’insignificant little songs’ are imprints of a traditional culture once flourishing, but now only surviving in scattered shreds. They have preserved countless secrets and messages, whose deciphering can be an immense pleasure for the modern listener. This belief has led me to compile this album.
I have woven the fabric of a storyline, telling the path of woman’s life, from traditional songs, prayers, and excerpts from children’s games. Birth – marriage – death: the turning points of life are interwoven with the periods of childhood and of choosing a partner, followed by the decades of married life, where the life of the husband and the children is emphasized.
I sing the story, and my musician companions paly the music arranged by Zoltán Kovács. So do the ’Songs watch over Time’, and so do we preserve the songs...”

01. Születés / Birth
02. Forog az esztendő kereke / The Wheel Of The Year Is Turning
03. Kicsi leán guzsalyasba / Young Maid At The Spinning House
04. Koppan az óra / Farewell To The Bride
05. Este lett a leánnak / Maidenhood Is Over
06. Évkerék / Years Are Passing
07. Tiszta feketébe / All In Black
08. A csodahalott / The Miraculous Dead Man
09. Monár András éneke / Song Of András Molnár
10. A mennybe vitt leány / The Girl Who Was Exalated To Heaven
11. Évkerék / Years Are Passing
12. Az utolsó átváltozás / The Last Metamorphosis

Szilvia Bognár – voice
Márta Sebestyén – voice
Mariann Majorosi – voice
Péter Bede – shepherd’s flute, saxophone
Ágoston Félix Benke – drum
Mátyás Bolya – koboz
Csaba Gyulai – percussion, gadulka
Gábor Juhász – guitar
Zoltán Kovács – double bass, violin
István Pál „Szalonna” – violin, vocal
Balázs Thurnay – kaval, recorder, marimba, vocal
Flóra Erdélyi and Dafna Busa – nursery rhymes

Link

Celebrating 20 years of Méta: "Joy has come..."

"Art has the ability to return people’s feelings which they may have lost. Good music is a world religion in which we are all believers. This includes folk music - while listening to it one feels that one belongs to others, to life... to each other.
It enables us to find the rightful place of everything in the world and does not allow the “colonization” of our senses. It survives everything - if nowhere else, in our souls.
On this festive album this is worthily revived in the interpretation of the now 20 year-old Méta. Because this material is festive. And, as such, it broadens horizons, lifts past over present, unites earth with sky. The world’s principles remain the same, while attitudes towards them are unique. And the real value of things is hidden in their permanence - that is also proved by this CD."

"On our jubilee anthology the listener finds selections grouped not by regional origin. We formed three larger groups primarily based on the message of the texts, between which fit two shorter traditionally edited compositions. We hope, in this way, that everybody will find their favourite songs from the harvest of 20 years.
We did..."

1. Szerelem
Nincsen csillag az égen (Kalotaszeg)
Szabad madár (Buza)
Maros mellett (Lőrincréve)
Nem tudja azt senki, csak a Jóisten (Észak-Mezőség)
Én vagyok a falu rossza (Kalotaszeg)
Fekete gyász (Kalotaszeg)
Tudod, babám (Magyarszovát)

2. Gyöngy
Mikor én még kicsi voltam
Gyöngyöm, gyöngyöm

3. Tavaszidő
Elment a madárka (Kalotaszeg)
A tavaszi szép időnek (Kalotaszeg)
Tavasz, tavasz (Moldva)
Ma van húsvét napja (Szatmár)

4. Választó
Mit nekem egy almát…

5. Köszöntő
Mária, Mária (Moldva)
Vagyon az égen egy csillag (Székelyföld)
Ez napon itt megjelentünk (Szék)
Eljöttek a múzsák (Szatmár)
Gergely-járás (feldolgozás)
Eljött az öröm (Kalotaszeg)
Neved tiszteletére…; Éljen, éljen… (Szilágyság)

Musicians:
Beáta Salamon - violin, voice
Attila Gera - clarinet, tárogató, whistle, tilinka, accordion, voice
Zsolt Nagy - viola, drum, voice
Zoltán Porteleki - cimbalom, viola, hurdy-gurdy, voice
Albert Mohácsy - bass, csello, koboz, voice

Guests:
Ferenc Németh - voice, drums

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Dikanda is a young Polish group, founded in 1997 by accordionist and singer Ania Witczak. They play a mix of traditional East-European and gypsy music, plus their own compositions.

"How to describe the music of Dikanda? Acoustic folk rock meets haunting Eastern European female vocal? Klezmer rock? All of the above, plus more, comprises Dikanda's special sound - and that's only the first song on their album USZTIJO. Violin, accordion, standup bass, guitar and frame drum are featured; yet they rock like crazy - and meld perfectly with that haunting voice!
Their idea was to play music from across Eastern Europe, so songs and melodies from Poland, Bulgaria, the Ukraine, and Macedonia meet Jewish and gypsy music. Dikanda really knows how to build drama as well: check out cut 4 on USZTIJO, a cut called 'Amoriszej': it sounds like something American Jay Ungar might have come up with, but more adventurous with the percussion.
Some bands take three or four listens of the complete cd to become fully involved and to appreciate the music: Dikanda had us all in the palm of their collective hands before the first song was halfway played."

Link

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The Jávori Sound Machine, founded by acknowledged drummer Vilmos Jávori in 2002, strives always to create a special atmosphere on stage with their energetic performance of an amalgam of Hungarian folk music, jazz, pop, and Latin rhythms. They mostly play original compositions and traditional arrangements. Vilmos Jávori (1945) has been a definitive character of Hungarian jazz life for decades. He has won numerous prizes and awards including the Special Prize of the Montreaux Jazz Festival, the eMeRTon Prize, and the 1st Prize at the San Sebastian Jazz Festival. Péter Sárik (1972) started to play the piano at the age of 7, and graduated from the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music in 1997. He has played and made recordings with several jazz and pop formations, and has also composed music. László Nagy (1982) has achieved high ranking
and won a number of music contests despite his young age. József Horváth Pluto (1980) won the talent contest for bassists organized by the Hungarian Radio in 2003, and is a sought-after session musician on both acoustic and electric bass. Dávid Jávori (1982), son of Vilmos Jávori, is pursuing classical music studies. He ranked 3rd at the 1998 European Festival.

01. Tavaszi szél
02. Duna Parton
03. Doberman
04. Megkötöm a lovamat
05. Duo (Sax: Tony Lakatos)
06. Kicsi madár (Sax: Tony Lakatos)
07. Just For You (Sax: Tony Lakatos)
08. Felülről fúj
09. Szivárvány havasán
10. Hol jártál az éjjel

Horváth Plutó, József electric bass/double bass
Jávori,Dávid violin
Jávori,Vilmos drums
Nagy,László guitar
Sárik,Péter piano

Link

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"The music on this cd is incredible in its intensity and power - and in its honesty. The band centers around a father, Gojma (Antal Kovács); and his son, Anti (Antal Kovács, Jr.). Gojma's raw, fiery voice contrasts nicely with the smother style of his son - and Anti's guitar work is beautiful. There is a strong Flamenco influence that can be heard in Anti's playing - Spain being just one of the stops on the Roma Road. These two central figures are joined by Joco (József Balogh) on vocals and guitar; Csika (Zsigmond Rafael) on milk churn (that's right...) and bass vocals; Kornél Horváth on an amazing array of percussives (he also offers some percussion-related vocalizing, akin to that heard in recordings of tabla players from India); Zoli (Zoltán Orosz) on accordion; and Laci (Lászlo Molnár) on double-bass. Together they make some of the most infectious, honest and moving music you're likely to hear anywhere.

The songs here deal with life - plain, simple and complicated. There are songs of love and loneliness, of relations with neighbors, of the difficulties in finding suitable employment (who can't relate to that...?), and more. The melodies are beautiful, the playing throughout is superb. This recording would be a great introduction to the music of the Romany Road - check it out!"

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As the result of its very complex nationality relations, Transylvania has become the meeting point of very diverse peasant cultures (Hungarian, Romanian, and German) and so, its folk music is unique too. The instrumental music traditions were preserved the most by the gypsies in Transylvania and Moldva. The art of beeing a musician descended from father to son for centurise and this is how those dynasties were born that served and shaped the music needs of village people. Today, however there is less and less possibility for them to play their music, as in many places people do not insist on the traditional, live music. Therfore precious this compilation, because all the bands you can hear on this album know and play such music pieces that originate from the era before the urbanisation of village life.

The recordings for this CD were made by Ferenc Kiss between 30 May and 1 June 1997 in Csíkszereda, Romania during the Primates’ Meeting held there. While editing the material, the intention was to give a complex, yet varied picture of that unbelievably colourful culture which will sink into oblivion very soon also in this part of the world.

01. Fetioreste des (Román férfi tánc / Rumanian men's dance)
02. Palatkai román táncok / Rumanian dances from Palatka
03. Csingerálás / Gypsy dance
04. Bodonkúti táncok / Dances from Bodonkút
05. Joc Batrinesc din Barai
06. Fetioreste des (Román férfitánc / Rumanian men's dance)
07. "Clock"
08. Sűrű és ritka tempó / Hungarian men's dances: fast and slow
09. Csingerálás / Gypsy dance
10. Szökős / Leaping dance
11. "Medvés" / "Bear dance"
12. "Rókatánc" / "Fox dance"
13. Kerekes
14. Botosánka
15. "Gergelytánc" / "Gregory dance"
16. Batuta
17. Verbunk / Recruting dance
18. Jewish dance
19. Sebes forduló / Quick turning-dance
20. Lassú és sebes magyaros, "medvés"
21. Ficsoreszka és sebes kalup / Rumanian men's dance

Link

They're not likely to be found singing "Tumbling Tumbleweeds," even though that plant hails from their country, but the Tuvans are having an impact on the rest of the world when it comes to their music. Tuvan throat-singing, a fascinating style in which a single vocalist can produce a haunting four-part harmony, has turned up on Ry Cooder's film soundtracks and as part of the style of bluesman Paul "Earthquake" Pena, while concerts by groups such as Huun-Huur-Tu continue to be extremely popular. This compilation, produced and annotated by Ralph Leighton, brings together traditional and contemporary Tuvan music, opening with a demonstrative medley from Kongar-Ool Ondar and closing with a duet between Ondar and Pena.

01. Kongar-Ool Ondar - Medley Of Throat Singing Styles Accompanied By Doshpuulur
02. Aldyn-Ool Sevek - Demonstration Of Kargyraa
03. Oleg Kuular - Collection Of Hoomei Styles
04. Oorzhak Khunashtaar-Ool - Bolur-Daa-Bol, Bolbas-Daa-Bol
05. Oorzhak Khunashtaar-Ool - Eder-Daa-Bol, Etpes-Daa-Bol
06. Bilchi-Maa Davaa - Hoomei Lullaby
07. Shaktar Shulban - Demonstration Of Sygyt And Kargyraa
08. Kongar-Ool Ondar - Dymzhuktaar
09. Kaigal-Ool Khovalyg - Fantasy On The Igil
10. Kongar-Ool Ondar - Fast Words
11. Kongar-Ool Ondar - Shamanic Prayer For Richard Feynman
12. Nadezhda Kuular And The Tuvan State Ensemble Sayani - Teve Haia (Camel Rock)
13. Sainkho Nahchylak - Bai-Laa Taigam
14. Mikhail Alperin, Et Al. - Prayer I
15. Huun-Huur-Tu, Bulgarian Women's Choir Angelite - Fly, Fly My Sadness
16. Oleg Kuular, Michail Alperin, Et Al. - In The Cathedral
17. Oleg Kuular, Michail Alperin, Et Al. - Tuvan Industrial
18. Albert Kubezin And Yat-Kha - Yenisei-Punk
19. Paul 'earthquake' Pena - Kargyraa Moan
20. Kongar-Ool Ondar And Paul 'earthquake' Pena - What You Talkin' About

Part 1.
Part 2.

The accordion is booming! At every corner, both geographically and musically, the longneglected allround instrument is surfacing.

Since its first tour as Accordion Tribe in 1996, this great band has guaranteed musical verve, blissful melodies and both gloomy melancholy and inquiring, searching sounds.

While their first release was – with great success – still heavily tailored to the live material of their tour at that time, the eagerly awaited current album “Sea of Reeds“ is a downright studio album (recorded in Lars Hollmer’s famous “Chicken House“ in Uppsala, Sweden). This environment allowed The Tribe to fathom out and apply the entire range of their compositional ideas and their virtuoso realization. The result is an arc of sounds (with varying instrumentation) comprising folkloristic pieces (“Silvia’s Tongue“), tango variations (“Tan-gocide“), waltz minnesongs, nordic (“Pas du valse“).
Despite the deliberate stylistic differences the band has created a remarkably homogenous and very rich album, opening up the whole cosmos of the accordion.

01. Tangocide
02. Unikko
03. Lilla Pas du Valse
04. Swither
05. Portaletyde
06. Gras
07. Goldhorn
08. Silvia's Tongue
09. Südaf
10. Tuttuni
11. Chalk Dust
12. Thursday Night's Fridays
13. Spinning Jennie

Bratko Bibic: piano accordion
Lars Hollmer: piano accordion, melodica
Maria Kalaniemi: button accordion
Guy Klucevsek: piano keyboard, convertor bass
Otto Lechner: piano accordion

Link

Popular music has been having the kind of rebirth that classical music had at the beginning of the last century. Composers who are searching for new paths have found a flood of inspiration in the basic foundations of musical resources, most of all in folk music. In this amazing record by Katan you can find adaptations of Transylvannian-Moldavian-Hungarian folk themes and motifs.
Kata Horvati and Ancsa Papp sing these songs in such a pure, strong and powerfully expressive way that is a characteristic of performers who have truly mastered the forms of Hungarian Folk songs. And the musical "accompaniment" is an equally important companion to the new and well formed structures. It's one of the peculiarities and strengths of this album that different great artists who represent different genres of music play together. For example Mihály Borbély, a prominent figure in Hungarian Jazz culture, Ferenc Kisvári, who has played the drums on records that count as milestones in the history of Hungarian popular music, András Hajós, the singer songwriter of the band Emil.Rulez!, or Kit Walker, the American Jazz pianist, who played on Jai Juttal's record that has been nominated for the Grammies: they all gave to this record their own uniqueness and the atmospheres of the genres they play in, creating an interesting fusion with folk music.

There is a great variety of what is on offer in the markets of so called "World Music". Many "musicians" use melodies from folksongs and they just insert them into popular material without any imagination, in a shallow way, without making much mental effort.

The producers of Katan, Csaba Faltay and Ferenc Kisvári didn't just use the foundations of folk music, but they enriched the songs with their own special contributions and with incredible musical arrangements and unique musical structures.

The musical heritage the great Hungarian composers, Béla Bartók and Zoltán Kodály, the world famous adaptors of Hungarian folk music, was the inspiration for this album. The world of these great composers can be felt in the harmonisation and in the motifs of these songs, which is a kind of respectful bow from the creators of this album to those great musicians of the past.

01 Gyűrű Dal
02 Szováti
03 Déva
04 Rózsa
05 Árva Madár
06 Elmenek
07 Koszorú
08 Gergely Dub
09 Bánat

The band Katan:
Kata Horváti - vocals
Ancsa Papp - vocals

Musicians:
Kit Walker - piano
Mihály Borbély - wind instruments
András Hajós - vocals
Ferenc Kisvári- drums
Viktor Dudás - drums
Gábor Bruzsa - bass
Arnold Antoni- guitars
Zsófia Tallér - keyboards
Zoltán Istvánffy - electric guitar
Csaba Gyulai - gadulka
Csaba Faltay - keyboards

Link

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"Three masters of their art have joined to form the new Ferenc Snétberger Trio. With natural ease they bring together choice compositions, technical skills, improvisational drive and musical fantasy of the highest order.

Hungarian-born Ferenc Snétberger is among today's outstanding players on his instrument, one "who can display intensity and passion even at a quiet volume" (Cadence). Going for a synthesis of flamenco, classical, jazz and samba, he melts all these influences into a very personal style full of surprise, warmth, wonder and emotion. One of the leading jazz bassists of today, Norwegian Arild Andersen is famous for his full-bodied tone and his elegant playing. He has recorded dozens of great albums with the likes of Jan Garbarek, Bill Frisell, Stan Getz, Pat Metheny and Don Cherry. Italian-born Paolo Vinaccia has been living in Norway for 25 years and is a household name on the most creative Scandinavian improvisers' scene. His imaginative and colorful playing could be heard with Nils Petter Molvaer, Bugge Wesseltoft, Terje Rypdal, Palle Mikkelborg and others.

The trio's debut album "Nomad" hypnotizes the listener with breadth and clearness.
When Snétberger, Andersen and Vinaccia start to play, it is like pure magic. Charming melodies, thrilling grooves, fiery improvisations, sudden turns and fragile moments evoke sceneries right out of dreamland. Founded in 2004, this unusual trio has quickly grown into a highly celebrated live act. Critics have called them "a triangle of pan-European inspirations, an amalgam of mysticism and joy of life, dream paths and clear laughs, trance and dance". The trio's music -- ranging from modern jazz drive and world beats to decent electronic sounds and vibrant lyricism -- catches the audiences by its sheer emotional power."

01. Empathy
02. Childhood
03. Yellow
04. Nomad
05. Song To The East
06. The Fifth Frame
07. Outhouse
08. Waterkiss
09. Move
10. Air

Ferenc Snétberger: acoustic guitar
Arild Andersen: double bass, electronics
Paolo Vinaccia: drums, percussion, electronics

Link

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"17 Hippies is a prolific outfit ... their polyglot style has evolved to take in
dozens of genres, and here they've chosen to mix an Eastern European odd-metered rhythm, played on bass and accordion, with a plaintive, gentle reading of the `Apache' melody on the clarinet. It's very simple, and effectively makes an old classic new again."

"17 Hippies sounds like someone used a warped blender to mix an accordion, ukulele, banjo, saw, clarinet, violin, trumpet, trombone, flute, a Jew's harp, an Indian tampura, an Irish bouzouki, an assortment of other string and wind instruments, a Zydeco band, Luminescent Orchestrii, and a circus sideshow from somewhere in Eastern Europe. In other words, their sound is quite bizarre and absolutely fantastic."

"17 Hippies are one of the most exiting bands that exist in Germany today. And if you miss them, it's your own fault."

"17 Hippies are ridiculously underrated. They should be in the front rank of European world music artists."

"The musical idioms are ... disparate, yet the mix is never incoherent. 17 Hippies have learned how to fuse sundry musics into one."

"The renegade sound of 17 Hippies--captured on the new disc Heimlich-- is an engaging blend of pop sounds and traditional eastern European folk melodies."

For the past 12 years, Berlin's very own "special orchestra" 17 Hippies has been playing a whirling, crashing, diving, bobbing, weaving mixture of music from around the world. Imagine a mix of Eastern melodies, Balkan rhythms, French chanson, Anglo songwriting, and Cajun tunes, all perfectly blended together to create a unique pop style.

Starting in Spring 1995 as a trio playing mainly instrumental music, the band mutated into an ensemble--now numbering 13 musicians--that displays a vast range of musical creativity, ranging from their French radio hit "Marlène"" to the soundtrack for Andreas Dresen's award-winning film Halbe Treppe(Silver Bear, Berlin Film Festival).

With their new CD Heimlich, 17 Hippies have set a milestone. On this intoxicating album, most of the tunes are vocal--sung in German, French, and English. From a wild dance inspired by a Romanian melody to a Zydecogoes- Bollywood tune, 17 Hippies have created another masterpiece.

01. Schattenmann
02. Son Myst
03. Wann War Das
04. Deine Trn
05. Teschko
06. Tick Tack
07. The Moving Song
08. Apache
09. Heimlich
10. Just Like You
11. Madame
12. Rustemul
13. Wann Denn Dann Wann Dann (Prolog)
14. Le Son Mystere
15. Papadam
16. Jacques Balzac
17. Wann Denn Dann Wann Dann

Link

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Alongside the spectacular style of the virtuoso gypsy violinist there also exists a style of music that the Rom perform only within the family circle or encampment. Here the human voice reigns supreme, stirring up violent emotions that range from poignant malaise to unbounded joy.

A specialsed, but excelent survey of authentic Gypsy songs from six towns and villages in central and eastern Hungary - vocals, in Hungarian and Romani, with accompanying spoons and strucks pots and tables. Gypsy music for Gypsies.

01. JÁSZKISÉR:
Baj van baj van babám... * Jaj de luludja... * Babi lovam kopogása
02. Ne báncsatok... (Gajdolás)
03. Kedves bábam... * Taj kirola
04. SZOLNOK: Ke soha te na meren, * Ke lóli phábály...
05. Ke le luludja barol... * Gajdolás
06. TISZAKARÁD: Én istenem... * Gajdolás
07. De farotokat... * Kerék az...
08. Ma lesz kedvem... * Phengyom tukha...
09. Szállogat a pályva madár...
10. NAGYKÁLLÓ: Laso djes te del o del... * Pergetés
11. Aj ke sostar mange, * Oj O curara...
12. Felszállott a páva
13. HODÁSZ: Rudas csillag hajnal hasad
14. Ando kukurizo...
15. ÖCSÖD: Babám, babám, de babám...
16. Avel o postasi, * Szájbőgőzés * Gajdolás
17. Esik az eső * Gajdolás

Link

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Virtuosos of throat singing AltaiKai from Altai Republic (Russia)
(Kai is the name of throat singing in Altai.)

Musicians of the AltaiKai ensemble are virtuosos of Altai throat singing – kai. They skilfully sing all styles and variety of kai and play traditional musical instruments of Altai people. Velvety, low sounds of karkyraa, fascinating hoomey and melodious sygyt – sybysky, lively imitations of nature sounds (birds singing, purling of brook, animals voices) - also delicacy women’s singing and woman’s throat singing, melodies of khomus (jew’s harp), topshuur and accordion – all of that is AltaiKai. Traditional Altai songs about Motherland and its beauty, about bogatyrs and their past Power, about Altai people combined with joking tunes, dances and shaman mysteries. Narrators kaichy sing traditional, sacred in Altai heroic legends and eposes. All of that is AltaiKai.

01. Song About Kai
02. Warriors Words
03. Spring Water
04. Summer
05. My Land
06. My People
07. Three Peaks
08. Khan Altai
09. Play, Play Khomus
10. My Altai
11. Shamans Blessing
12. Oyim, Oy-Oyim
13. Shunu Warrior
14. I am an Altaian
15. Ancient Kai Song and Tunur Drum
16. Play, Play Altai
17. Joes Song

Part 1.
Part 2.

A unique and cathartic musical experience, Psyché takes you on an 80 minute long journey to a very particular Hungary.

Psyché couples the voice and music of Beáta Palya and her Quintet with the poetry of the celebrated Hungarian poet Weöres Sandor.
An epic story, Psyché tells of the life and times of a half gypsy woman named Psyché whose passionate gypsy blood is at odds with her education in the noble courts and the conventions of early 19th Century Hungarian society - these contradictions lay the foundations for her life adventures, and for her suffering. As the story unfolds the listener encounters playful, erotic and bloody poems set to original compositions, folk melodies and gypsy tunes, there are even some strong jazz influences as with the track Ius ultimate noctis, which uses the melody from the Billy Holiday song Strange Fruits.

Weöres first published the poems claiming to have discovered them gathering dust in an achieve: he attributed them to an imaginary creator, an impassioned 19th century poetess named Lónyai Erzsébet, who – Weöres claimed - had sent her poetry to another poet because she was in love with him. By the time Weöres admitted to being the true author of the poems, the imaginary Lónyai Erzsébet had already become one of Hungary’s best-loved literary characters. A real woman in the hearts and minds of many - it was even believed that the passionate and troubled life story of Psyche mirrored Erzsébet’s own life, and theories about the woman developed in abundance.

The strength of the musical compositions on this disc is such that even non-Hungarian speakers will find themselves entranced by the world of Psyché and her imaginary creator.

Bea uses her impressive and accomplished voice to sing the poetry as close as possible to the spoken rhythm of the poems: “I want – as Lónyai Erzsébet said in one of her poems about her poetry - someone to feel the warmth of my breath…”

Az utóbbi évek egyik legsikeresebb énekese saját válogatásában, a Palya Bea Quintet közreműködésével szólaltatja meg a 19. századi „költőnő” gyakorta frivol, de mindig őszinte verseit. A könyv a sorozatnál már megszokott igényes kivitelben jelent meg. Az illusztrációkat Gyulai Líviusz készítette. A zeneszerző Gryllus Sámuel.

„...Még nem tudom, mennyi nekem, még hallgat bennem a Lélek.. „ – írtam két évvel ezelőtt a Psychéről, Weörestől vett szavakkal. Most, két év elteltével többet tudok már, Lónyai Erzsébet új életre kel bennem. Megéneklem hát a Költőnőt és vele a Költőt. S persze magamat is. Most lett itt az ideje, ezt a lemezt nem lehetett előbb bemutatni.

01. Gabónak, kisebb édes Ötsémnek
02. Frantzúz leçon közepett
03. Nina néném
04. A késértet
05. A boszorkány
06. Fragmentum
07. Patak parttyán
08. A habozó türelmetlen
09. Dall
10. Denisenek és Josónak
11. Akrostichon
12. Az oktalan
13. Az Ideal
14. Josó neviben Christinának
15. Christinánkhoz
16. Klavier Studium
17. Sáros-Pataki polgár leány
18. Szózat Katitzához a férfiak ügyiben
19. Katitzához keserűségemben
20. Emlék
21. Bútsú Denisetűl, férjezett Lady Kenneth-tűl
22. Ninon testvér néném Souvenir albumába
23. Die taube Priorissa
24. Tarantella
25. Levél cousinomnak Ujhelre
26. Minutes volantes III.
27. Minutes volantes IV.
28. Epistola ennen magamhoz
29. Sírfeliratom 20-dik születés napomra
30. Ius ultimae noctis
31. Egy lovász fihoz
32. Venus és Mars
33. Kéretlen tanácsok I.
34. Tzigán dallok magyarittva I.
35. Tzigán dallok magyarittva IV.
36. Strahlensplitter
37. Tükör előtt

All the songs are performed by the Palya Bea Quintet:
Bea Palya – voice
Miklós Lukács – cimbalom
Balázs Szokolay – szaxophon, bagpipe, taragotte, flutes, Jews‘harp
Csaba Novák – acoustic bass
András Dés – derbuka, riq, milk-can, voice
Featuring: Zoltán Lantos and Balázs Bujtor – violin

Part 1.
Part 2.

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Evenly split between instrumentals and vocal tunes, this debut album is a compelling blend of originals and new arrangements for pieces pulled from various Eastern European songbooks. The band aims to expand the definition of Jewish diasporic music, by learning and reinterpreting songs and rhythms from all over Slavic and Balkan Europe. Lyrics are in Yiddish and aim to speak forcefully to the bloody history and intractable contradictions of Jewish diaspora and 'return'. With backgrounds in punk-rock, free-jazz, and other liberation musics, the all-acoustic playing on this record benefits from a genuinely spirited delivery and intensely original approaches to arrangements that never feel forced. This is modern folk music from Eastern European sources played strong, unburdened by antiseptic production and/or cheap sentimentality.

Songs range from the propulsive to the sublimely restrained. "Fishelakh in Vaser" explodes with a pumping free-music rhythm section, "Cretan Song" is a staccato Balkan dance, and "Ver Tantz?" is an angry, politically-charged klezmer-punk original. Instrumentals "Shvartze Flamen..." and "Nign", along with the brilliant original "Toyte Goyes" (lyrics taken from a poem by Yiddish writer Itzik Fefer) are meditative and heartrending.

01 Shvartze flamen, vayser fayer
02 Papir iz dokh vays
03 Fishelakh in vaser
04 Cretan song
05 Ver tanzt?
06 Stav ya pitu
07 Nign
08 Toyte goyes in shineln
09 Kalarash
10 Forn forstu
11 Skocne
12 Moscowitz terkisher
13 Di khasene


Thierry Amar: contrabass
Scott Levine Gilmore: mandolin, cymbalom, guitar, drums, violin, harmonium, voice
Gabe Levine: clarinet, guitar, bass clarinet
Jessica Moss: violin, bass clarinet
with
Jesse Levine: piano on 05; accordion on 09
Nadia Moss: piano on 12

Link

"Every piece originates from authentic performers, the tunes have been arranged by the members of the group. We attempt to interpret the original sound authentically."

Dűvő plays Hungarian folk-music first and foremost in a traditional style. It has been playing in concert since 1981 as an independent orchestra. In its repertoire all kinds of music of the ethnic groups in the Carpathian-basin can be found. The members of the ensemble also deal with the collecting and teaching folk music.

They have taken part in several Hungarian festivals and have performed in other countries: Belgium, Netherlands, Spain, France, Turkey, Finland, Greece, Austria, Israel, Poland, Germany, Portugal, Sweden, and Luxembourg. They won one of the most coveted prizes in 1983, "Young Master of Musical Art" and in 1989 they were awarded the order "Excellent Ensemble."

01. Bagpipe Songs From Somogy County
02. Recruiting Music and Csardas
03. No more honour
04. Purtata - Pacalka
05. Hungarian Slow And Fast
06. Forgotten tunes
07. The Sun Has Risen
08. a, March b, Everlasting Peace
09. Chanting At Christmas
10. The Musicians
11. Csango tunes from Moldavia

Ferenc Andrássy - Cimbalom, Double Bass, Drum
Dénes Hruz - Violin, Bagpipe, Voice, Drum
Szabolcs Hruz - Viola, Violin, Kobsa, Voice
István Nagy - Double Bass, Flute, Kaval, Saxaphone

Link

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A suprisingly fresh Hungarian Folk-rock album with some balkan influences, lots of instruments, virtuoso solos and always a tight sound with well-crafted songs taking Folk music as a base and turning it into a spacey Progressive sound with heavy Guitar. You get Gypsy Violin, Zither, Bagpipes and Flute layered with Space drum, scorching Guitar and Bass. Though it’s from 1984, this is excellent all the way and comes highly recommended!

01. Zöld szemű rózsa / Rose of Green Eyes
02. Védelmezz! / Protect Me!
03. Egy ágyon egy kenyéren / Common Bed, Common Bread
04. Trák attak / Thracian Attack
05. Alig volt zöld / It Hardly Was Green
06. Ne sírj / Don't Cry
07. Ilju Haramia / Ilyu Highwayman
08. Ha meghalok / If I Die
09. Gyere ki te gyöngyvirág / Lily-of-the Valley
10. Adjon az Isten / May the Lord Provide
11. Macedon Expressz / Macedonian Express (Instrumental)
12. Jöjj be szobámba / Come in My Bower

Link

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The ensemble LA MINOR was founded in summer 2000.
The ensemble performs in the style of street chanson with Russian folk, ska, jazz and Klezmer (Odessa style) influence. Once the style of LA MINOR was named as “Odessa beats”. It s the most precise determination in which LA MINOR live, create and perform.

The music of LA MINOR enriched by bayan (Russian accordion), saxophone, balalayka and tuba brings you back to the atmosphere of 20-40-es Soviet years and reminds the soundtrack to good old films about gangsters, tragic love and great swindlers of that time. Happy and nostalgic in the same time their music will not leave you untouched. Teeming with thieves and policemen, prostitutes and undercover agents, La Minor's Soviet-era street songs about the urban underworld strike an all-too-familiar chord with local art-house fans. But as the St. Petersburg band has learned on its frequent trips abroad, foreign audiences bring their own life experiences to the music.The collective consists of professional musicians.

Right from the outset, the voclaist Slava Shalygin set out to emulate urban folk guru Arkady Severny. Severny's genre, now euphemistically known as Russian chanson, surfaced from the music underground after the Soviet Union's collapse, and has since become ubiquitous in popularized renditions on radio stations, at cafes and in taxicabs. But La Minor returns to the music's roots, with the sophisticated arrangements and deadpan delivery that originally marked the gangster sound.
La Minor is known for its careful choice of material, and for ignoring the standards in place of obscure gems of folk poetry.

01. Aleshka zharil na bajane
02. Kokain
03. Devushka v Plat'e iz Sitca
04. Postoj, Parovo
05. A Ja Hozhu Pohodkoju Pochtennoju
06. Val's
07. Nikolaevskij Tramvaj
08. Murka
09. EvrejSKA
10. Istorija Studenta
11. Bros', Zhalet' ne Stanu
12. Gorod Anapa
13. U Son'ki Imeniny
14. Kakim Ty Menja Jadom Napoila
15. Mama, Mama
16. Konfetki-Prjanichki

Slava Shalygin – vocal
Igor Boytsov – saxophone
Sanja Ezhov – bayan (Russische accordion ), back-vocal
Lyonya Agafonov – double bass
Vova Uspensky - gitara, banjo
Zhenja Bobrov – drums

Link

The band was founded 1995 in Berlin by Christopher Blenkinsop (bouzouki, ukulele & vocals), Carsten Wegener (bass), Lutz “Lüül” Ulbrich (banjo & guitar), Kristin “Kiki” Sauer (accordion & vocals) and Reinhard "Koma" Lüderitz (bagpipes). They first used the name 17 Hippies in the fall of that year.

In 1996 they began to organize their own series of free concerts called Hippie Haus Tanz (Hippie House Dance). At this time Antje Henkel (clarinet), Elmar Gutmann (trumpet), and Ulrike “Rike” Lau (cello) joined the band. In 1997 Henry Notroff (clarinet) and Dirk Trageser (guitar & vocals) also were added, and live recordings of different concerts and rehearsal room sessions were compiled into their first CD Rock'n'Roll 13. In 1998 they played at the SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas and then toured in Texas and Louisiana. Later that year Uwe Langer (trombone) joined the band and they played in Paris for the first time.

They established their own record label and in 1999 released their second CD Wer ist das? (Who is that?). The French label Buda Musique released a compilation of both CD’s called Berlin Style, which was then also released in Italy. Volker "Kruisko" Rettmann (accordion) joined the band.

In 2001 the band wrote the score for the German movie Grill Point (Halbe Treppe) by Andreas Dresen and they performed in a cameo role in the film. A tour of Budapest, Prague, Vienna and France took place, and the second French album Sirba was released, featuring their first radio hit "Marlène". Kerstin Kaernbach (violin) also was added to the band lineup. Their first studio album Ifni was released in 2004. An extensive tour of Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Morocco and France ensued. Daniel Friederichs (violin) became the last member to join the current lineup. In 2006 the band made a tour of Japan and Spain and composed the music for the play Kasimir and Karoline, staged at the Deutsches Theater in Berlin.

Their style is a unique mix of Eastern European melodies and rhythms, with French chanson and American folk music. They sing mainly in German, English and French. In France their music is known as Berlin Style.

01. Die Oros
02. Mad Bad Cat
03. Isa Auf Der Brucke
04. Ershter Tants
05. Eine Sirba
06. Marlene
07. Elf-Achtel
08. Gelb Zwo Drei
09. Tanz Des Bauem
10. Saragina Rumba
11. Chassidic Song
12. Sandgate
13. Fahrstuhimusik
14. Vallee De Sira
15. Freilachs - (live)
16. Gator's Grin
17. Kilomeyke
18. E Major

Link

pass: bluesmen-worldmusic.blogspot.com

Babos Gyula is the most representative guitar player of the Hungarian jazz life, the driving force of the modern Hungarian improvisative music. “…If you do not know his play, you simply lose colours from the palette of existence and revelation, and they will never get back to you after the moment when the magic fades away…” His band, the Babos Project Special represents a peculiar synthesis of electronic jazz and roma music. Babos, as typical to him, selected the most talented young musicians for the band.

01. Chacho Rom
02. Chacho Rom II
03. Paradicsom (Paradise)
04. EastWes
05. Tango Hungaro
06. Botoló (Staffing)
07. Bolondház (Madhouse)
08. Variáció (Variation)
09. Kígyó Ballada (Daróczi Choli József meséje)
(Ballad Of The Snake - Tale By József Daróczi Choli)
10. Himnusz (Hymn)

Babos Gyula - guitar
Szakcsi Lakatos Róbert - piano
Patai Öcsi - violin
Hárs Viktor - double bass
Balogh László - drums
Veress Mónika - vocal

Part 1.
Part 2.

"Márta Sebestyén's first solo album features Muzsikás as her backing group and, indeed, largely follows in the mould of earlier Muzsikás albums. "Dúdoltam én" contains tracks with various approaches to Hungarian folk songs - the majority are performed with authentic traditional musical accompaniment, some have a modern musical arrangement and some are pure vocal performances with no music at all. The highlights of the album are the first and last tracks - both are among the finest of Sebestyén's career."

01. Vetettem Violát (A Violet I Planted) Moldva
02. Széki Magyar, A ‘Misié (Misi's Dance From Szék) Mezöség
03. Fúvom az énekem (I Sing My Song) Gyimes
04. Fehér galamb szállt a házra
(A White Dove Has Come) Mezöség
05. Hajnali nóta (Morning Song) Kalotaszeg
06. Egy pár tánc Mezöségröl
(A Couple’s Dances From Mezöség)
07. Szeress egyet, s legyen szép (Love Just One)
08. Három árva (Three Orphans)
09. Fújnak a fellegek (Dark Winds Come) Somogy
10. Teremtés (Genesis)

Musicians:
Márta Sebestyén - voice, recorder
Sándor Csoóri - guitar, hurdy-gurdy, viola, kobsa.
Péter Éri - double bass, buzuki, cello, viola, tambura, folk shawm,
Dániel Hamar - double bass
Mihály Sipos - violin, zither.

Guests:
Zoltán Juhász - recorder
Béla Halmos - violin
László Porteleki - violin
Csaba Ökrös - violin
Antal Fekete - viola
Katalin Gyenis - voice
András Berecz - voice

Link

pass: bluesmen-worldmusic.blogspot.com

The group "Kulin Ban" was formed at the beginning of 2005. It tried to make a unique connection between old and modern sound led by the expression "from Kulin Ban's period up to nowadays" and on that way it popularized the name of a very specific medieval sovereign.
The greatest challenges of the project were different affections in music and aspirations of the people involved. It wasn't easy to connect different music traditions and colour them with ambient hues. The very challenge was the greatest incentive as well. As the result, their first album of the same name was published in 2006 by PGP RTS.
Since then "Kulin ban" has had many concerts and promotions. Conceptually, "Kulin ban" was trying to avoid the model of "the western" band system which behaves as a group of individual musicians that express themselves. The accent is on the community with its focus on the archetype in which musicians surpass themselves and become indeed one mind and one soul …they become one.
So, "Kulin ban" has never restricted itself to a determined number of "group members" or inflexible type of music concept on the stage. Freedom as a precondition of any movement, freedom of the artistic expression was, is and will be the priority for Kulin ban.

1.Januske beluske
2.Kad ja podjoh na bentbasu
3.Zali Zare da zalimo
4.Ja urani jutros rano
5.Stojna moma brazdu kopa
6.Od kako sam ja devojce
7.Sobinka
8.Ban brdo

Part 1.
Part 2.

Contrary to popular belief, Golem is neither a towering Jewish Frankenstein who defended the Jews of 17th Century Prague, nor a creature from “Lord of the Rings.” Golem is a 6 piece Eastern European folk-punk band.

Fronted by Annette Ezekiel - singer, accordionist, and 5-foot powerhouse; and vocalist, tambourine player, crazy-man Aaron Diskin; violin virtuoso Alicia Jo Rabins; trombonist extraordinaire Curtis Hasselbring; elegant upright bassist Taylor Bergren-Chrisman, and unstoppable drummer Tim Monaghan, Golem’s sound evokes wisps of old-world elegance filtered through the successes and disappointments of new-world dreams. Spending nights in Lower East Side immigrant-owned bagel shops and summers in Eastern Europe, Annette collects Jewish, Gypsy, and Slavic folk songs, and, with Golem, rewrites, adds, edits, and rearranges them along the way. These are the songs to which Eastern European grandparents danced over a century ago, and now Golem has its unwrinkled fans moshing to the same pulsing beats.

"The word on "Fresh Off Boat":
Love stories? Check. Dances? Check. Warnings to future son-in-laws? Check. Dysfunctional families forcing kids to sell bagels on the street? That’s here too.

After 2004’s Homesick Songs, GOLEM has paired with not-for-profit label JDub (Matisyahu, Balkan Beat Box) and producer Emery Dobyns (Patti Smith, Antony and the Johnsons, the Battles) for their latest release, Fresh Off Boat (a reference to new immigrants who call each other F.O.B.s). Thirteen tracks in five languages, the album hits stores August 8th, 2006, and features Phish bassist Mike Gordon, and legendary Patti Smith guitarist Lenny Kaye and more."

01. Ushti Baba
02. Mazel
03. Bublichki
04. Klezmerke
05. Warsaw In Khelm - (featuring Amanda Palmer)
06. School Of Dance
07. Charlatan-Ka
08. Rent, The
09. Mazurka
10. Golem Hora - (featuring Mike Gordon/Lenny Kaye)
11. Stick It!
12. Czardas
13. Le Mariage

Link

EtnoRom ensemble was founded in 2005 by József Balog and Ágnes Künstler, the world-famous soloists of the Hungarian Gypsy group, "Kalyi Jag". Their new formation, Etnorom presents a unique range of fiery Gypsy music and dances from the Balkan Peninsula to Andalusia. The songs appear in exciting, new scoring by outstanding Romany musicians, who grew up singing and playing music and worked as members of Middle Eastern Europe's most famous Gypsy and folk groups. Etnorom's incredibly colorful repertoire includes; Gypsy music from Hungary, the Balkans, Serbia, Romania, Russia, Greece, Turkey, Spain, and - which is a real delicacy - the Arab world! The concerts are enriched with belly dance performed by Alexandra, and various Gypsy dances from the region. An "audience dance participation section" is often added to the show that gives the audience the possibility to learn belly dance moves and traditional Romany dances.'

From band:
"EtnoRom has an alternative approach towards Gypsy music by merging the authentic tunes with contemporary world music, swing and jazz elements. Why is this approach new today, when world music is the main trend? Because EtnoRom managed to create a musical balance so that the music saves the extreme power of real traditional tunes and rhythms.
EtnoRom's mission is to build contact between Romany tribes who wandered from Northern India and settled down in various parts of the world: In Northern Africa, Andalusia, Turkey, The Balkan Peninsula, Serbia, Russia, Romania and Hungary. In most of the cases the Gypsy people themselves don't know the music and dances of their brothers and sisters. EtnoRom aims to make Gypsy and non-Gypsy people know about the incredible diversity of Gypsy music. This mission, combined with the musical approach of the group has created a new, brave form of Gypsy music that roots in the authentic Gypsy basics and harmonically integrates other musical trends, as well."

01. Kanak Devla me pijav, When I drink...
02. Zsanezs Sukar Te Khelesz
03. Phirdem me ande luma, I walk all alone...
04. Aven, aven Romale!, Come, Gypsies, let's dance!
05. Romanos
06. Soha senkit nem szerettem, I never loved anyone
07. Jek fogasi me kerav, My style
08. Kotyka tele bassaven, They are making music down there...
09. Muro cino kalorro, My little black son
10. Rogyom me Tut Ande Luma
11. Phirdem me ande luma, I was wandering through the whole world
12. Miert Sir Az En Tulipanom
13. Ajaj Devla de margyan man!, My God, how you’ve treated me bad!
14. Tu Szan Muro Pirano
15. Romale aven ke mande!, Gypsy people, come with me!

Musicians:
Jozsef Balog - guitar, vocals
Ágnes Künstler - vocals
Sándor Kuti - cimbalom
László Major - violin
István Balogh - percussion, oral bass, dance
Miklós Balogh - keyboard

Guests:
Tamás Smuk - darbuka, cajon
Zoltán Balogh - solo guitar, bass guitar, buzuki
Zoltán Lakatos - solo guitar, accord guitar
Rudolf Balogh - Spanish rhythmic guitar

Link

pass: bluesmen-worldmusic.blogspot.com

There can be little doubt that Felix Lajko is an incredible violinist with an exceptional talent.

"I had heard that Lajkó is regarded with awe in the Balkans, but was still unprepared for the impact of hearing and seeing him at such close quarters.... he attacks his violin with such ferocity that broken threads cascade from his bow during each number. There is a tendency for Balkan musicians to fit into one of several generic categories – gypsy, folk, Klezmer, etc – but Lajko seems to have invented a style of his own, and any reference to existing genres would be misleading. Each of his instrumental songs had a clear structure, and yet each seemed open to the spirit of the moment."

"My music is based on the delicacy and colourfulness of my instrument. I do not play any new types of musical genre, I only follow my own path and improvise and write music. I cannot see differences between musical styles and ways, so I play folk-, classical-, rock-, blues-, and improvisational music. I have written music to several theatre plays and films for Yugoslavian and Hungarian directors. I wrote a musical piece for the festival commemorating the Sarajevo Cultural Olympics."

1. Play 1
2. Single
3. Play 2
4. String Quartet
5. Solo
6. Finale

Musicians:
Félix Lajkó - violin
Zsolt Kelemen - viola
Michael Babinchak - cello
Ferenc Kurina - double bass
Tibor Takács - drum

Link