Jony Iliev grew up in the Kjustendil Gypsy quarters. It just 150 kilometers southwest of Bulgaria’s capital Sofia. More than 20,000 Gypsies live there. “When…
Artist Profiles: Jony Iliev
Tag: Gypsy music
Artist Profiles: Yuri Yunakov
Saxophonist Yuri Yunakov was born in Haskovo, southeastern Bulgaria, of Turkish Romani (Gypsy) ancestry and currently lives in the New York City area. He comes…
Artist profiles: Taraf de Haidouks
Taraf de Haïdouks, whose name translates as “band of brigands,” are a village band of Gypsy (Roma) lautari (traditional musicians), who come from a small…
Artist Profiles: Romano Drom
Romano Drom, which in Romani language means ‘gypsy road’, presents the musical tradition of the Olah Gypsies from Valachia, traditionally horse traders and traveling salesmen…
The Passion and Virtuosity of Khamoro Budapest Band
Khamoro Budapest Band – Hungarian Gypsy Music (ARC Music EUCD2708, 2017) Preparing to direct the 1970 film, “Little Big Man,” director Arthur Penn decided to…
Artist Profiles: Parno Graszt
During the last decades the name of Parno Graszt (White Horse in the Roma language) became the equivalent of authentic Hungarian Gypsy music. The band…
Artist Profiles: Mahala Rai Banda
Mahala Rai Banda is an “all stars” Gypsy (Roma) band that includes players from the rural villages and Bucharest ghettos, and combines virtuoso violin playing,…
Artist Profiles: Leonsia Erdenko
Russian vocalist Leonsia Erdenko was born in 1972. She is the daughter of the famous Roma singer Nikolay Erdenko. Leonsia has been performing since 1987.…
Artist Profiles: Esma Redzepova
Esma Redzepova was well-known throughout Eastern Europe and the Balkans as “the queen of the Gypsies.” She was exuberant as her music. She sang and…
Artist Profiles: Boban Markovic Orkestar
In a small town in Central Serbia, called Guca, the “Festival of Brass Music” takes place annually since 40 years. It’s a competition to determine…