Band of Gypsies

Taraf de Haïdouks

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 31, 2001)
• Original Release Date: July 31, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Nonesuch
• ASIN: B00005M98J
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #47,080 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #4 in	Music > World Music > Europe > Eastern Europe > Romania
  #52 in	Music > World Music > Europe > Eastern Europe > Gypsy

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

Romania's best-known music export, Taraf De Haidouks, returns with a live album that perfectly displays their ample talents. On tracks like "The Return of the Magic Horses," the playing is incendiary, accelerating almost to the speed of light, while the songs have their trademark, mournful gypsy quality. The album might share its title with a Jimi Hendrix record, but this is the real deal, bringing in enough guests from around the Balkan, including Macedonia's Kocani Orkestar Brass Band, to qualify as a joyous summit on modern Roma culture, and completely irresistible. Concert recordings aren't always successful, but this brings the atmosphere right into your living room--you can almost see the musicians smiling as they try to outpace each other, before launching into the kind of instrumental passage that seems beyond human ability--only to pull it off without breaking a sweat. Growing international success hasn't spoiled the band--they're still rooted in the village tradition. But when the fiddle bows scrape and the improvisations hit the stratosphere, the village becomes the world. --Chris Nickson

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great stuff, October 15, 2003

By	cadams (USA) - See all my reviews

I heard this CD playing at FNAC in Paris two years ago. I bought it and 'Chagrin Seulement' and 'Une Tsigane' are now always on my laptop (and therefor always where I am). These guys play great and sing greater. The rawness and elemental qualities of the music make this a must have CD in any international music collection

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Romani beauty for the ears, February 24, 2002

By	Darby's Mom "darbymom" (Noo Yawk City) - See all my reviews

I heard this CD playing in the International section of a record shop, and was so mesmerized by it, I spent 20 minutes trying to track down a salesperson that actually KNEW what was playing! When I brought it home and listened to it, I was not disappointed. The music is vibrant, exciting and beautiful. It expresses both joy and a haunting feeling of persecution - that which, as I understand it, is the essence of the Roma.

As a trained, musical person with a good ear, I can appreciate the melodies, harmonics and rhythms. You can dance to it, sing with it and just enjoy it!

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great CD for a Monday morning!, June 22, 2002

By	Neal C. Reynolds (Indianapolis, Indiana) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Energizing is the word! This music is loud, fast, and with the fiddles, accordians, and guitars, intensely up beat and stimulating! Yes, there is sadness here also. After all, it is gypsy music. But the energy displayed here will dispel any Monday morning depression for sure!

The absence of English translations is a minus but certainly not big enough of one to knock off more than one star.

If you are tuned in to the gypsy spirit, to the uninhibited zest for life though tinged with sadness, you can not go any better than this!