Taraf de Haidouks! It is a gypsy band from Romania. If you like gypsy music and Balkan music, read it carefully. You will meet with one of the best gypsy band of the world. They are world music’s smiley faces. The band carries gypsy music to the stage of world music successfully. Could an instrument talk? Taraf de Haidouks members do it. It is a Clejani, Romania based gypsy band consists of 15 funny musicians that they perform from 80’s. Although some members died, the band still plays with musicians from the first and the second generations. Romania hosts the largest gypsy community of Europe. It is possible to find many gypsy orchestras and group in Romania. The country exports high quality gypsy music with Taraf de Haidouks and Fanfare Ciocarlia. They are the milestone of gypsy music and Balkan music. When you hear their music, you will enjoy and try to control yourself not to dance.
Taraf de Haidouks’ musical journey on world music stage began after their debut album in 1991. The group appeared in Tony Gatlif’s awarded movie Latcho Drom. Actually, the movie tells a story about them. They became famous and reputed gypsy music group after they appear in this movie. Tony Gatlif is also musician that his movies are about gypsy culture. Taraf de Haidouks also have some famous fans like actor Johnny Depp and fashion designer Yojhi Yamomoto. They appeared in Johnny Depp’s The Man who Cried movie. Some of their songs released in the soundtrack album as well. Yamomoto invited them to his fashion show in Tokyo and Paris as model and musician. The group also played with violin virtuoso Yehudi Mehunin and Kronos Quartet. Working with reputed artists and appearing in awarded movies made the group one of the best representatives of gypsy music.
Taraf de Haidouks polyphonic sound consists of some instruments like violin, double drum, accordion, flute, cimbalom, double bass, and some wind instruments. Group members’ musical abilities are perfect that it goes to the virtuosity. They joined countless concerts, festivals and organizations. Some musicians from Turkey, Macedonia and Bulgaria also worked with them during the group’s world tour. Their live performance is excellent that I have been to their concerts two times. Improvisation ability, abilities in instrument playing, rotation make their music original and enjoyable. You could see violinist plays accordion in another song. Many of group members are also multi instrumentalist. They had some musical projects with some famous Balkan music and gypsy music groups like Kocani Orkestar and Boban Markovic. Their performance with one of the most important Balkan brass band Kocani Orkestar should be listened. The group won BBC Radio 3 Awards of World Music in 2002. Although it is the most important awards, the group was awarded by many organizations.
Let us see Taraf de Haidouks albums.
Musiques de Tziganes de Roumanie (1991) - Honourable Brigands, Magic Horses and Evil Eye (1994)
- Dumbala Dumba (1998) is one of my favorite albums. Improvisation is perfect.
- Taraf de Haidouks(1999) is a compilation album.
- Band of Gypsies (2001) is another extremely suggested album. A la Turk and The Return of the Magic Horses are the best songs in the album.
- The Continuing Adventures of Taraf de Haidouks (2006) is a good documentary about the group. You could see their excellent live performance. The album released as CD and DVD.
- Maskarada (2007) is an album that some classical compositions like Asturias and Bartok rearranged and played in gypsy music standards. Do not lose the album. It is perfect.
- Band of Gypsies Part Two (2011) is one of my favorites. You could see the group performance with Kocani Orkestar. A gypsy group and a Balkan brass band play a masterpiece together.
Taraf de Haidouks is one of the best gypsy group and orchestra in the world music market. If you want to hear excellent performance, improvisation and virtuosity, do not lose the band. You could find some videos and song previews in their official profile page.
http://www.myspace.com/tarafdehaidouksbandofgypsies
Bye for now!
Do you like combinations of jazz? Do you like Latin jazz and classical music? Today we will know more about a jazz band fuses jazz with many styles like Latin Jazz, Cuban Jazz, Classical Music and Opera. If you have never heard about Klazz Brothers, read this article carefully. Jazz lovers, classical music lovers and Latin and Cuban Jazz lovers will appreciate Klazz Brothers’ Latinized and Cubanized based jazz performance. Their musical curiosity and willingness make their music in experimental line. We could observe development of their music year by year. It is not a static minded jazz band. Germany based jazz band Klazz Brothers has been founded in 1999 to combine Jazz and Classical Music. An inspiration of two different world’s music arises in their music. Experimental willingness makes Klazz Brothers one of the few excellent jazz groups.
Imelda May! She is a singer from Ireland, Dublin. If you have never heard about her, don’t lose this article to discover an awarded female vocal who sings with many famous performers. Imelda May is a singer, songwriter and composer her music’s sound is Rockabilly and Blues. We get use to hear Rockabilly sound from the United States. You could think it is an ordinary blues singer. Because there are many unimaginative blues singers only sing their songs. Imelda May’s voice and significant lyrics make her music original and fashionable. I could say that she is one of the best female vocals in her style. Her voice is really unique that make you feel listening real music. She also plays guitar, bodhran and tambourine. 
No Turning Back (2003) is the debut album that recorded two times. It is a successful debut album that contains more Rockabilly and Rock and Roll elements. Dealing with the Devil, Bring My Cadillac Back and No Turning Back songs are my favorite songs in the album. Although sound is a bit poor, it is an appreciated album that better than many albums released in America. 
Dengue Fever! It resembles a disease, right? It is also a pop rock band from Los Angeles their music influenced by Cambodian music. The band’s music includes pop, rock, indie and psychedelic elements with a Cambodian vocal. I have discovered Dengue Fever, while I was trying to find some new stuff on the internet. I found an album cover and it made me think that it’s a psychedelic album. While I was listening to the album, I read the band’s story. Dengue Fever’s founder Ethan Holtzman went to Cambodia to find a singer. He met with a Cambodian singer Chhom Nimol. She is already well known karaoke singer in Cambodia. After they met, she decided to move to America to make more money and Dengue Fever has been founded. I like immigrant influenced groups or artists. Their music is really interesting and listenable. In my previous posts, you could find some immigrant based groups like Kiosk from Iran. Please click here to read. You will like it. 
Dengue Fever music is really good that it includes indie, rock, pop and psychedelic elements. This variety makes their music different form ordinary indie groups. At least, they have cultural items to add their music. Dengue Fever’s music neither totally ethnic music influenced by Cambodian music nor pure indie music in an ordinary pattern. Listeners feel comfortable, while they are listening to their music. Chhom Nimol’s different voice color, psychedelic elements, other musician’s contribution raises the bar. Songs are in Khmer language until the third album. Before I give suggestions about Dengue Fever albums, I could suggest their self titled debut album Dengue Fever. 
Dengue Fever is highly listenable group that you could find psychedelic, rock and indie elements. It is also group that you will never feel regret due to buy their albums. Let the band bring you to their world with their different and listenable style Visit Dengue Fever’s official website and official MySpace profile page to listen to preview songs and get more information. Don’t lose this band.
Leningrad Cowboys! Maybe they are the funniest rock group in the world. Kitsch costumes, interesting hair design, funny performance and Russian influence. It is Finnish Director Aki Kaurismaki project. Have you ever watched Leningrad Cowboys Go to America movie? It is very funny Aki Kaurismaki movie that tells a story about a Russian rock group goes to America to be famous. It’s very funny story. After the movie, Leningrad Cowboys made many albums as a cult rock group. Although their appearance looks cult, they are serious musicians and their musicality is perfect. Leningrad Cowboys perform cover songs from many artist and rock group like Delilah from Tom Jones, Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin, and Perfect Day from Lou Reed. Those Were Days! It is a famous song that many singers sing it. In my humble opinion, Leningrad Cowboys’ version is perfect. We could describe their music as Polka Rock. 
Mercan Dede, also known as DJ Arkin Allen is musician who is a DJ, composer, Nay and Bendir performer. He is highly appreciated musician that he connects east and west, he combines new and old. If you have never heard Mercan Dede, read this article carefully, and get to know how eastern music fascinates people with the western elements. Mercan Dede is a Turkish world music performer that he performs Sufism oriented Turkish music with electronic music elements. It is not a kind of electronic music that contains some DJ absurdity for dance. His music is polyphonic, instrumental based, and trance rhythm oriented music influenced by Sufism. Although Sufism is a specific and local concept, his music carries the concept to global stage of world music. You could listen to his songs’ previews from his official website. You could find link at the end of the article. 
Sufi Dreams (1998) is one of my favorite albums that he combined old and new with east and west elements. It is extremely recommended album. It could be good for beginning. There is a nice Hederlezi Balkan traditional song cover in Sufi way. 
Come, come, whoever you are, 
Therion! It is a gothic metal band from Sweden. Maybe some of readers will close the page, after hearing heavy metal. If you think in this way, reconsider your decision. Otherwise, you will lose one of the best classical music with rock album. Several days ago I sent a post about Danney Alkana who performs classical music by electric guitar. If you want to know him, you could 
Have you ever heard anything about Arto Tuncboyaciyan? He is an Arnmenian multi instrumentalist musician, composer, songwriter, and producer. I could say he is folk, ethno jazz and world music master. I would like to write more about Arto Tuncboyaciyan. Today, we will know more about one of his projects Armenian Navy Band. You could suppose that the group is a military chorus like Red Army Chorus. There is neither sea nor navy in Armenia. It is an interesting irony. If you like ethno jazz and world music merged with local elements, Armenian Navy Band will satisfy your expectations from this kind of music. I also have an article about another Arto Tuncboyaciyan project Katuner composed of some of Armenian Navy Band Members. You could 
Armenian Navy Band performs ethno jazz music with Armenian and Anatolian elements. They have fully traditional songs, jazz songs, and songs fusing modern and traditional elements. You also could find Funk elements in their songs. They are very successful to create unique melodies and to fuse Armenian and Anatolian elements to contemporary world music. Instrumental variety and traditional instruments load feelings to their music. Almost all songs were composed by Arto Tuncboyaciyan.
Natural Seeds album is a good album to introduction to Armenian Navy Band. It is technically perfect album and contains more modern elements. Ocean, Fire and Air are my highlighted songs for you. Apricot and How Much is Yours albums should be listened. Let's Not Become a Copy from a Copy, Kef Kef (Celebration) and Oleaman from Natural Seeds are my favorites. New Apricot is also appreciated album. Don’t lose it.
Chingon is very successful Latin rock group that deserves your attention. You could listen to some preview songs in their official MySpace profile. You also could get more information about Robert Rodriguez and his works about cinema. Don’t forget to listen Cherry’s Dance of Death. You will love it. 
Makis Ablianitis also formed a collateral trio band with two Greek jazz/blues people. The collateral band name is Hot Organic Trio and the band played cover songs with only guitar, Hammond organ and drum. He toured Greece, Macedonia and Turkey. He recorded songs from Bahar album and made some new songs for his album Bahar Live Under the Sky. He worked with famous musicians and performers in this album. Normally, live albums are not good albums to get to know a musician, but this album erases all cliché understanding about music. It is very good album to know his musical background. This album is extremely suggested album that you will fall in love with Love Secret song. All songs are very successful and fascinating but Love Secret is really a special song. Buy the album and listen it! The song will impress you. 
In 2008, he released his new album Kismet. Makis Ablianitis also worked with reputed musicians and composers from Greece and closer countries including Dragan Dautovski from Macedonia. His band Dragan Dautovski Quartet is also very nice band to listen. Please, check from Google. His music gets mature day by day. This album is also extremely suggested album that Baba trilogy will make you feel good. Kismet is also very nice song. 
