It’s no secret that Gypsies make the best musicians. The Roma –as they call themselves– have always been making music, at literally every occasion, happy or sad, secular or religious. Ever since the time they left their native Rajasthan over a thousand years ago, Gypsies have been absorbing the music of the peoples they met, enriching it and making it their own. Some of them settled down –at least for a while– on what is now Hungary. Today I want to tell about a certain family of Hungarian Gypsy musicians, and why their music will blow you away.
Karaván Familia is a Gypsy music group from Hungary, formed by István Nagy, his wife Ilona, and their two teenage children István Jr. and Niki. The head of the family sings, arranges and plays guitar in a style that reminds you equally of Django Reinhardt, Paco de Lucía and Carlos Santana. The wife sings in a haunting high-pitched voice which goes from sweet whisper to meteoric lilting in a split second, and dances as well. The children are miniature versions of their parents, and I’m sure that one day they’ll become important names in the world of Gypsy music on their own right. For an example of what they do on stage, go to www.karavanfamilia.hu and take a look at some of their videos.
The group plays traditional Gypsy music from Hungary and elsewhere, using instruments such as acoustic guitar, accordion and a rich assortment of percussion: Middle Eastern darbuqqa (hourglass-shaped drum favourite of bellydancers all over the world), Turkish finger cymbals (zills), Peruvian cajón and the rustic but inimitable steel milk jug, which sounds very much like an udu drum… or better yet, a slightly drunk udu drum.
Roma Flamenco is the first album recorded by the Caravan in early 2000s. They got a little help from Boban Marković, one of the most famous Gypsy trumpet players from Serbia, and they also added to some songs a bit of electric bass and synthesized drums (traditional music fans, don’t cringe, it’s done tastefully). This album is, start to finish, one of best you’ve never heard in your life —without a doubt.
The stage is set at the very beginning of the record, with Ki Itt A Legény (Who’s the Man Here?), a fiery whirlwind of a song that clocks in at 190 beats per minute (read: faster than the Can-Can), and features all of key elements of the album: catchy melodies, very tight arrangements, Marković’s colourful improvisations, amazing polyphonic singing, the wildest lilting this side of Ireland, and a final accelerando that would make Fatboy Slim go green with envy. If you’re like me, this song will energize you like an hour on the treadmill would, but without the sweating.
Őszi Levél (Autumn leaves), the next song, has a rumba-like feel, and I think that if Karaván were a mainstream act in Argentina, you’d hear this chorus sung at every football match. And maybe one day they will, you know? I certainly did play the next song, A Tűz Varázsa (“The Magic of Fire”), at parties, and people absolutely loved it! Actually, I dare you to listen to it and not hum along.
There’s a few ballads, too. Pillem, Pillem, Karaván and Tango Gitano add to this colourful and extremely complex mosaic of styles which is Gypsy music. The underlying merry theme is, however, always felt — even in the saddest song of the album, A Szél Dalol (“The Wind is Singing”). And when I mean sad, it’s not because I understand what they’re singing, no. Lyrics are not included in the liner notes, you can’t find them online, and not even my Hungarian-speaking friends were able to help. To me, this is by no means a weakness — on the contrary, it allows the spirit of these songs to breathe through… and hey, it’s great fun to be able to sing along phonetically again, just like we used to when were kids and didn’t know any English, don’t you think?
The album wraps up with Pomagele, the happiest, bounciest song of whole CD. You’ll have no idea of what you’re singing, but trust me, you will be singing “ah-jelly-pom” with the rest of us… and if you don’t, I would check my vitals signs if I were you. Back when I use to DJ, no “Balkan party” block would be complete without this song, and I wonder how come nobody has remixed it yet.
Roma Flamenco is an excellent example of authentic, contemporary Gypsy music from Hungary, and Karaván will amaze you with their musical prowess and win you over with their fiery spirit.
If you are like me, you will also wonder how this music from so far away could possibly feel so close to home. But if doesn’t, hey, we’ll always have ah-jelly-pom.
- Who: Karaván & Boban Marković
- What: Roma Flamenco (2001), 12 tracks
- How to get it: unfortunately, you are not going to find this record at music shops in Argentina. Since currently Amazon doesn’t have it in stock, I’d say you get it whichever way you can.
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