Tchorba [IMPORT]

Les Yeux Noirs (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 13, 2005)
• Original Release Date: December 13, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: World Village USA
• ASIN: B000BZISYY
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #150,106 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Founded by the violin-playing Slabiak brothers, Erik and Oliver, Les Yeux Noirs has explored the common ground between Jewish and Gypsy music for more than a decade. Here on the septet's fifth album, tChorba, which is a French perjoritive for "soup," the band continues to refine its Jewish/Gypsy stock while adding in plenty of herbs and spices to make it the band's richest-sounding effort yet. The title cut opens with a funk groove riff before ompapa-ing to rock and back. The band gets its flamenco on for "O'Djila," sounding like they could give the Gipsy Kings a run for their money. Most intriguing is the fusion on "Desirs Derisoires," which has a comfortable reggae lilt to its rhythm as it bounces between Latin pop and exotic Eastern filigree. The purpose of posing the band members under showers in the CD booklet is perplexing, but at least the band has its musical ducks in a row: amidst the stylistic shifts, the music doesn't leave the listener adrift. --Tad Hendrickson

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Slabiak brothers conquer Gypsy-oriented music, December 17, 2005

By	Jason Shawn "fistagon7" (Manassas, VA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Their name comes from a French translation of "Ochi Chornya" (in English, that's "black eyes"), an old Russian Gypsy tune that was a big international hit at one time for the seminal outfit jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt. Classically trained violinists, Les Yeux Noirs fell in love with Yiddish folk traditions and set about to recreate Roma (gypsy) tunes. The album title literally translates to soup (a Turkish soup whose recipe boasts a wide range of wholesome ingredients-another comparison to the band) and could be a parable for their touring which has seen the septet play reggae, jazz, and classical festivals as well as venues really off the beaten path like churches, cellars, and even California biker clubs. The music is Gypsy in orientation but features classical influences from Eastern European, Jewish, and rock music with David Bowie and Supertramp cited as musical icons by the Slabiak brothers Eric and Olivier. Crafty and a breathtaking listen that's upbeat despite the long history of abuse and persecution that is intertwined in Gypsy culture.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dark Eyes Really Shines, November 28, 2007

By	blaze - See all my reviews

What a joy to hear something new and not just same old, same old. The variety and technical brilliance of this group is amazing and yet it all comes off as just natural. Tney bring out the gypsy in me. A refreshing change to hear something international. I hope they will have some influence on American music.