21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Russian Soul Food, March 3, 2001
This review is from: Russian Gypsy Soul (Audio CD)
These two CDs present a sparkling selection of the kind of Gypsy music which has made such a profound impact on Russia's popular music for several centuries. There are eloquent examples here of the four major regional styles of Russian gypsy music, from the Far East though the Siberian nomads to the southern peoples of the Russian Empire. There are also occasional echoes from other countries, principally from Eastern Europe but ranging as far west as Ireland. Most striking to American jazz fans will be the clear genesis of Djanko Reinhardt's Hot Club of France with its characteristic virtuousic guitar and violin solos against a backgroud of insistent guitar rhythm, such as with the Loyko ensemble. Reinhardt, who has been called the first great European jazz musician, was a Belgian but intensely proud of his gypsy heritage. Larger groups of frentic singers and instrumentalists leave the listener with the feeling of taking part in one of the orgiastic scenes of revelry in the Brothers Karamazov. Some listeners may find the irrational exuberence of a few of the singers too much a a good thing but even such soloists convey an authentic oral picture of an enduring aspect of Mother Russia.
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