The Rough Guide: Music of the Gypsies

Description

Brand new. Opened only to make sound clips.

The album starts out with an example of modern flamenco from Pata Negra, then moves into Italian gypsy music and an ultra-high-speed number from the Romanian Fanfare Ciocarlia. It then moves immediately into a slow lament from Greek singer Eleni Vitali. From there, it progresses into Rajasthani music, and then back to Asia Minor with a group from Istanbul. A selection from Albania follows, followed itself by the new ambassadors of gypsy music, Taraf de Haidouks. Another Greek musician makes an appearance, followed by a pair of flamenco works, one from the guitar master Tomatito and one from El Indio Gitano and Gerardo Núñez. Finnish gypsy love songs and English harmonica-based folk songs follow. The album then returns to the more prototypical gypsy sound, with a Hungarian group reminiscent of early klezmer in many respects. A shawm-based dance from Kosovo follows, providing a look into the practice of instrument adoption into a culture. The album finishes off with cimbalom master Kálman Bálogh and his arrangement of a traditional number based on styles from Spain, Hungary, and Romania (the Spanish influence is particularly noticeable). Great album for a nice overall look into music of the gypsies. (Excerpt from a review by Adam Greenberg)