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Kálmán Balogh
and the Gipsy Cimbalom Band

'Aroma'

(FECD007)

Musicians:
Kálmán Balogh - cimbalom
Laszlo Major - violin
Sándor Budai - violin, voice
Ferenc Kovacs - trumpet, violin
Sándor Kuti - guitar
Csaba Novák - double bass

Guests:
Janos Lang - violin
Csaba 'Brunner' Varadi - viola

Label - Folk Europa, Hungary

"This CD is a further milestone in the band's passion for experimentation. The music of Gipsy Cimbalom Band is a 'great meeting' of different musical genres. The ensemble search for those association points, through which it is possible to interpret what might seem from many other points of view diverse music. Due to the high level of their technical ability with their instruments their imaginative ideas are effortlessly realised on these selections. The compositions are not mere reconstructions of pieces from each source area since the music, like Gypsies, crosses boundaries and the band manages to find unexpected combinations and juxtapositions. These traditional tunes merge seamlessly in the hands of the accomplished musicians as they swerve from style to style, constantly improvising around the main theme. This music is no longer ‘traditional’ but universal. Frequently on one piece the music of just one nation is played, as on, combining standard Romanian folk dances 'doina' and 'sirba'. Likewise a characteristic Transylvanian Gypsy dance, and the, which originates from Moldavia.

This band is guaranteed to put a spring in the step, bring a smile to the face and refresh the appetite of even the most jaded musical palette. After extensive touring through Europe and North America in recent years, in 2003 they step forward once more onto the world stage with a new programme and accompanying CD. Humour and irony, often self-referential, are evidently theirs, without which their music surely could not be genuine. Besides, virtuosity, a firm grounding in classical music studies, love of jazz and knowledge of and respect for different peoples' music are common denominators for the musicians of Gipsy Cimbalom Band. These elements are combined to provide a special musical experience for the listener."

"Kalman Balogh plays the cimbalom, an activity resembling someone spanking a small piano's innards with a pair of elongated shoe horns. If that sounds unwieldy, it's not. The Liszt Academy graduate employs a light virtuosity which, with his group's three fiddlers, one doubling on trumpet, guitar and bass, produces a highly mobile musical Cook's tour. Moldavian, Macedonian, Romanian, and Bulgarian tunes, a hint of tango, flamenco and klezmer all feature alongside a fiddle excursion into birdsong and finger-shredding brilliance. Another find. I'm running out of gold stars."
Rob Adams, Herald

USD 16.99

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Kalman Balogh
and the Gipsy Cimbalom Band

'Aroma'

(FECD007)

This symbol  indicates an mp3 sound clip for that track. Click on the symbol and wait for the clip to start. For more information click here. Tracks

1. Vízesés szirba - Waterfall Sirba (1'51")

2. Reggeli kávé - Morning Coffee (2'19") 21

3. Briul Lui Hacsaturján (3'23")

4. Keserédes kávé - Bitter-sweet Coffee (4'17")

5. Cigány körtánc - Gypsy Round Dance (3'37")

6. Sánta ördög - Lame Devil (5'19")

7. A titkosügynök szerelme - The Secret Agent’s Lover (5'15")

8. Karaván - Caravan (8'27")

9. Csillagok, csillagok … - Stars, Stars ... (5'01")

10. Csingerálás (8'49")

11. Lisa, Lisa (3'43")

Duration (52'24")

mp3 samples are approximately 30 seconds long - click on play symbol to start + pause clip

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