Search - World of Gypsies :: Vol. 2-World of Gypsies

Rajasthan, Eastern Europe, the Balkans: It's All Here

Erika Borsos | Gulf Coast of FL, USA | 05/12/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Paint me ecstatically happy when I discovered & first heard Vol. II "World of Gypsies". Track 1 from Turkey & 2 from Albania provide just the right rhythms & sounds that make me jump up and dance with joy. The especially intense raw sounds of the arid desert and harsh landscape are created by Taufiq Quresh (Rajasthan) in "Campfire". It capture the imagination of anyone who wants to experience this sort of life even briefly ... this passionate song is balanced with a soulful melody. The immensely energetic flamenco music played by Manitas e Plata is rare as it is beautiful. Andras Farkas & Ensemble play a delightful medley of Hungarian gypsy tunes ... spicey, colorful, & traditional. Vera Bila & Kale sound more Mexican and South American to my ears, than Bohemian ... very pleasant, happy music. Rich Balkan style gypsy music is presented to us, first by Vassilis Paiteris, a popular Greek gypsy singer, next by Ibro Lolov & his Gypsy Orchestra who hail from Bulgaria, proving the accordion is an instrument fully capable of virtuoso stylization and technique. Also from the Balkans, only this time from Skopje, Macedonia, Esma Redzepova & Stevo Teodosiekski Ensemble perform the rhythms and musical style of their homeland. Esma is called, "the Queen of Gypsies" and wins over anyone who listens to her. She is breath-taking, magnificent, tender and passionate, and also has a heart of gold. Another world-reknown gypsy musician is Kalman Balogh who has mastered the cimbalom, and has worked with all the best known traditional Hungarian musicians of his generation. Although best known for playing traditional Hungarian music, he has mastered jazz and other musical styles as well. The raspy singing style of Spain's gypsies from Cordoba needs no further introduction, Octavio Crespo is among the finest. Love, mystery, magic - gypsy music weaves its spell on the unsuspecting listener. After listening once, you want to hear the music more and more and more. On this CD you hear some of the finest living gypsy musicians on the planet today - doing what they do best! Erika Borsos"