GJ RECOMMENDS: KARANDILA WILL SHAKE GROMKA TONIGHT

One of the most respected Bolgarian brass bands Karandila is returnig to Ljubljana after almost eight years (they first time they had a concert in Ljubljana was on the notorious 9/11 0f 2001). The orchestra's source of musical inspiration includes a repertoire of Oriental, Arabic and Turkish tunes, along with traditional Balkan Gipsy rhythms. They also add a wide range of styles, from bebop, jazz, African sounds to swing. Over the years they have charmed the European audience, were stars of manny festivals, supported Goran Bregović on one of his Italian tours, been featured on the first of the Balkanbeats compilations (song Djelem, djelem feat. Maya).
The show tonight will certainly be different from the one in 2001. The band has grown and evolved, the singer Anita Christy joined the band. Musicians are even more daring when it comes to mixing different styles and influences. Worth moving your ass from your couch to Gromka for some pure Karandila sound!

www.myspace.com/karandila

Sunday, 5. 7. Klub Gromka 22:00

GJ REPORT: THE BEST GIPSY JAZZ IN TOWN

Another week, another gipsy music concert. This time we saw Picikato brass band and Ferus Mustafov in KUD France Preseren.
First to walk on stage in front of half empty hall was Picikato brass band. Maybe the lack of audience is to blame for a lukewarm start. The guys are good musicians, but at start they did not seem very intact. Later on it got much better but it was already time to stop and make some space for the master on the saxophone.
Ferus Mustafov and the band made us forget we even saw a concert before and Ferus once again proved why he is called the king; the speed, the precision, the energy... It was some really awesome gipsy jazz!

GJ GOULASH REPORT

This time the Tuesday's music night had a typical Gipsy flavour. Centred round Križanke (it started already around 7 p.m.) and Metelkova city – Menza pri koritu (until the early morning) a strong light and warmth of the brass instruments with a no less booming electronic equivalents of Balkanxpress and DJ Tito persistently opposed the rainy June weather. The shine of the brass was the strongest between 9 and 11 p.m. when the stars of yesterday's night were giving themselves to the audience: world famous, but completely “pop-free”, strictly gipsy-like, loud and with a breakneck pace - Fanfare Ciocarlia brass legends (Romania), together with a star of the same importance – Esma Redžepova (Macedonia), who contributed to their last album Queens and Kings (released 2007 on Asphalt Tango Records). At the beginning slightly reserved audience became completely incapable of controlling its bodies converted into Gypsies (screaming into the sky, clapping and shaking from head to toes) after the second song, when the sounds of tubes, trumpets, saxophones, vocal, and drum and bass mixed with a bootlegged “rakija” (it happened directly in front of my eyes or even closer…). Even more excessive enjoyment was noticeable during hits as: Ah ya bibi, Iag Bari, Lume, lume and most famous Dzurdzev dan played between crowd after the bis. Belly dancers Alja and Ines (their bare shaking hips were encircled by a wildly moving golden “aura”) and three more dancers with coloured light tools in hands added their own character to the roaring sounds. Some probably expected more from Esma, who sang only four songs, but nevertheless, I can easily claim that the whole evening (and of course morning) was gipsy-persuasive enough.

PS: You can listen to the DJ sets from Balkanxpress & DJ Tito on the GJ player. Enjoy!


Photo Tjašulja & Filip

Balkano Gypsy Happening at Club Tzigana, London

In the last two weeks there has been quite a lot of balkano gypsy happening around here. The one place in particular hosting the concerts has been 32 Old Bailey, which is a Romanian restaurant and music venue. 

On Thursday, June 11th, Serbian Rock'n'Roma KAL took over the place, and even though they have visited Slovenia for many times, some of us weren't so lucky to see them around there. That's why we were so excited to have a chance to catch them over here in London. 

It was said the night would start off as a tribute to Šaban Bajramović with »Shaban« (2007, Dir. Milos Stojanovic) film screening prior to the concert which was, due to technical problems, unfortunately cancelled. Hearing this we were a bit disappointed, yet, DJ Sacha Dieu took care of a good warming up. After that it was KAL time! They started with their best. They made us all dance and sweat from the very beginning! We heard Komedija, Dvojka, Gubertski tango… However, we must say we were most impressed by the violinist with his electric violin! And just from a quick glance at the grooving dance floor it was obvious that the band succeeded in making a great atmosphere!

Last Thursday, exactly one week after KAL, at the same place and at the same time there was another concert. This time Club Zigana hosted Radio Zastava from Italy. The band which is Italy based, but of mixed origins - Austrian, Friulian, Serbian/Bosnian, Slovene, was playing Gypsy, Balkan, Marching Band street music with a pinch of swing. This time the rock guitar and a violin were replaced with an accordion, a tuba bass, a trombone, a trumpet, an alto sax, a tapan, a darbouka and a doumbek. They were placed under the stage mixed with the crowd! We shouldn’t forget to mention a gypsy beats DJ set from Croatian Londoner DJ Shefitza who surprised us with Magnifico’s Hir Aj Kam Hir Aj Go!

It was another fabulous night!

If you are interested you can listen to a short interview with Dragan Ristić from KAL on  BBC worldservice (fast forward to 18 min) – click

Živa Šoba

AND THE WINNER IS...

A long expected concert of  Fanfare Ciocarlia & Esma Redžepova is going to take place tonight in Križanke. As we promised, two of the Gipsy Jungle friends are gonna see this excellent gipsy concert for free. This time the lot fell upon two Anas; Ana Srebre and Ana Fajfar congrats, you two are the lucky winners! Thanks to all the others, who also send the correct answers. By the way Fanfare Ciocarlia come from northeast of Romania, from the village of Zece Prajini. Since the roads to the village are to bad to even consider going there, we brought them here. So get ready for the fastest gipsy brass band in the world and start dancing!
Last but not least, the concert is not the only thing you should save your energy for. After the concert and the DJ sets of excellent DJ Click and BalkanXpress, the party will continue at the after party or as we like to call it Pafter Arty. It's going to take place in Menza pri koritu, and it will start around midnight! See you here or there!

WIN A TICKET FOR FANFARE CIOCARLIA & ESMA REDZEPOVA CONCERT

We promissed you a chance to win a free ticket for Esma Redzepova & Fanfare Ciocarlia concert, and here it is. All you have to do is answer this very simple question: where do Fanfare Ciocarlia come from? And we don't mean the country, but the village. It's really simple anyway. So, think or google a little and send us the answer to info@gipsyjungle.com.
The lucky winner will be anounced on Monday.

GIPSY QUEEN AND FANFARE CIOCARLIA @ KRIZANKE

Wonder, who that might be? Esma Redzepova of course, acompanied by excellent Fanfare Ciocarlia from Romania. They will perform together on the 23rd June in Krizanke and present their semi-fresh album Queens and Kings (2007). They have charmed the world with it, and it's about time they rock Ljubljana. Esma is a Macedonian phenomena with a voice that can make you cry, smile, dance and fly (without any drugs). And with the sounds Fanfare Ciocarlia provide, there is no way you wouldn't move your feet.
The guys are one of the best brass bands in the world, and they have numerous awards to proove it, including the prestigeous BBC world music award.
But that is not it. Three DJ's will be there as well. We are very happy to finally welcome DJ Click (France), DJ Kosta Kostov - Balkanxpress (Germany/Bulgaria), and yours truly DJ Tito. They'll warm you up, and make sure party doesn't stop till sunrise. With a little switch of locations somewhere in between (the caravan is moving from Krizanke to Menza pri Koritu @ midnight).
Stay tuned for some pop quiz in the next days and you might be the proud owner of a free ticket for the concert...



Tuesday, 23.6. 2009 Krizanke & Menza pri koritu 18:30

GJ REPORT: NOMO @ GALA HALA

The groove Nomo provided us with on Tuesday evening was perfect for an early summer night. The band served some funk, some afrobeat, a little bit of jazz, even a little bit of noise from time to time. Lot's of stuff actually sounded familiar, but the band really gave a fresh beat to it all. They took as on ride and you could easily drift away with them. At first quite static audience soon got into the groove and danced with the band all concert long. The guys stepping in the middle of the crowd, with everybody singing along gave a nice touch to the whole thing. Last but not least, DJ Borka and Bakto played a wicked afrofunky set after the gig. Wish to hear that more often!

Photo Tjasulja

GJ RECOMMENDS: NOMO

Nomo is an afrobeat, funky, jazzy group from Detroit. You'll hear them play on everything they find, on the dump, on the street in your grandmother's closet. They sound good and they have enough energy to share it with the audience for hours. They'll do it tonight in Gala hala and we'll be there to enjoy it as well!

Tuesday, 2.6. Gala Hala, 21:00