Taraf de HaA¯douks - Taraf de HaA¯douks

They are the consummate show band, highly skilled musicians with a flair for the theatric and a circuslike sense of timing. Romania's Taraf de Haïdouks have been one of the few Gypsy ensembles to represent their culture's folk music on the world stage, and with three albums to their credit, they have made a remarkable showing. This is a compilation of the three recordings they made in the '90s for the German Crammed Disc label. They are now on Nonesuch due to the personal fascination with the music shown by Kronos Quartet member David Harrington, who chose the songs for this self-titled release. Taraf de Haïdouks are a wondrous band, with a crew of brilliant violinists, singers, and cimbalom, flute, and accordion players who could break your heart one moment and leave you in laughter the next. The songs run the gamut: sweet love songs and paeans to broken hearts, subtle politics and social comments, and plenty of warp-speed dance tunes played with a ferocity that leaves their live audiences breathless. This is a great introduction to a band any fan of great musicianship on acoustic instruments should know. --Louis Gibson Amazon.com

Vibrant, joyous music

I really enjoyed Hora ca la ursari, Dumbala dumba, and Turceasca. Ursari has marvelous rhythm and sensuality, and Dumbala is sheer fun. The complexity of Turceasca is wonderful. Some of the other cuts sounded too alien, the beat too frantic, the vocals too loose, for my tastes, but the songs I listed and a couple of others (the one with the flute, especially) were outstanding. Would love to see this band live. May 4, 2008

A Lot of Heart!!

Truly a welcome change of pace. Energetic, Musical and with A Lot of Heart! Happy to have purchased this CD, can only wish for someday to be able to see them perform Live! While their Music sounds as old as time it also has the urgency of the modern, a great statement of music and quite original, what more can a person ask for, really. The Photo presented says a lot of Who they are, where they come from and it is all good. A fun and highly playable CD to own! 4 Stars! January 3, 2008

Gipsy Music

You can say this is a great example of gipsy customs, pure gipsy music (This is not gipsy jazz). July 17, 2007

Fantastic

I was skeptical at first but took the chance, and I'm glad I did. What a CD! Hora Ca La Ursari is agreeably best song on the CD. Not only am I going to buy the rest of Taraf De Haidouks' CDs but my friends are too! With a sound you can actually call music this CD is inspiring and fun. It makes you want to learn to play the fiddle, if you only had the time...

Buy it, don't think twice, there is no need. You won't regret it.
January 7, 2007

The reality of Romany--thanks, Johnny Depp

No wonder Johnny Depp had these guys playing at The Viper Room--what a sound!

We were in Europe last summer and we encountered a band of gypsies in the French Metro. They sounded JUST LIKE THIS. The sound is authentic and can fit a variety of musical tastes.
November 30, 2006

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