
Artist: Fanfare Ciocarlia
Type: Album
Year: 2007
Style: World / Gypsy (Romas) Ethnic / Gypsy (Romas) Jazz
Country: Romania

Album Reviews:
Ioan Ivancea, the clarinet-playing leader of Fanfare Ciocarlia, would be intensely proud of, and deeply honored by, Fanfare Ciocarlia's fifth record. Queens and Kings is a buoyant tribute to Fanfare Ciocarlia's patriarch, who died in October 2006, and who graces the cover of the CD with his wife. On the world stage, Fanfare Ciocarlia are renowned for their Gypsy 'speed-brass,' horns played at such a breakneck, thundering pace that one cannot help but be taken up in the headlong rush of the sound as well as amazed that the band manages to keep the horns in such precise discipline. With the passing of Ivancea, the remaining band members vowed to honor his legacy by inviting musicians from the wide Roma diaspora. Legends answered the call, among them Esma Redzepova from Macedonia, and Saban Bajramovic from Serbia. Also present are purveyors of the younger generation, such as Mitsou (who now fronts the Hungarian electro-gypsy fusion group Mitsoura), and Kal (whose recent hit "Duj Duj" gets a massive big-band here, fronted by Mitsou and Florentina Sandu).
Romania is a complex country: unfinished buildings from the time of Ceaucescu's rule still stand next to abandoned cranes; Bucharest's gray buildings burst with colorful advertising from the major multinationals; maxi-taxis, buses, and Dacias in various stages of (dis)repair vie for room on two-lane roads alongside farmers and Gypsies with their horse-drawn carts. Most people do not make much money, and the rush of goods into Romania tantalizes the populace with the hoped-for prosperity thought to accompany EU membership. Still, as Garth Cartwright's wonderful liner notes that accompany Queens and Kings state, Gypsies have been relegated to low social status in Romania; and despite Fanfare Ciocarlia's international success, the band had never played Bucharest until December 2006.
The wide swath of musical guests on the Queens and Kings project enter seamlessly into the Fanfare Ciocarlia sound. On "Que Dolor," marvel at how the flamenco guitars and hand claps of the French band Kaloome add a body-swaying intensity to the already funky horns. Enjoy how elder stateman Bajramovic's voice sounds remarkably strong during the giddy run of "Sandala," and how Esma Redzepova's assured vocals reinforce her status as "Queen of the Gypsies." From track to track, Queens and Kings shows the remarkable strength and color of Roma diversity, which only adds to the already special nature of this tribute.
But naturally, the focus behind the showcased voices here has to be on the band itself, and its arsenal of horns and percussion. Critics fall over themselves to describe the influences laced into the group's music: Balkan, Ottoman, pop culture detritus, Turkish, jazz; nothing seems to escape incorporation. Right from the beginning of Queens and Kings, as Dan Armeanca begins to sing "Kan Marau La" ("I Will Beat Her," the tune of which obfuscates the rather grim title), the horns blend upward behind the chorus in a shining break that could easily have been ripped from a techno dance track. The arrangements are consistently top-notch, and the band lovingly presents Ioan Ivancea's own stately "Farewell March" to their departed leader. Special mention must be made of the album's closing track, Fanfare Ciocarlia's version of Steppenwolf's "Born To Be Wild," which, with its over-the-top joyous vocals and intoxicating horns, is surely one of the greatest all-time cover versions ever made. Having just returned from Romania, I can also vouch that "Born To Be Wild" is also the perfect music by which to swerve your Dacia around wandering cows on Romania's rural roads. As a whole, Fanfare Ciocarlia's Queens and Kings is a monumental album to the Roma's perseverance in the face of a changing world, and the unifying power of music

Biography:
Following the release of "Gili Garabdi" in spring 2005, which promptly landed at number 1 in the WMCE Top 10, FANFARE CIOCARLIA travelled throughout Europe to record with musicians from the continent's extended Romany community. Overcoming borders and visas, foreign tongues and rhythms, more than two dozen musicians from France to Bulgaria came together to create "Queens and Kings" an extraordinary celebration of Gypsy songs. Casual observers may wonder how Fanfare Ciocarlia's roaring Balkan funk could possibly fuse with the flamenco guitars of French Gitans Kaloome or Macedonian legend Esma Redzepova's accordion driven music? Zece Prajini's musical magicians shrug off such concerns, noting that they share elements of language, experience, and an almost indescribable yet very Gypsy musical synergy with their guests. Hungarian music has permeated northern Romania for centuries, while Yugoslav and Bulgarian music came from encounters with travelling Gypsy communities or on pirate cassettes. Spain and France existed in pre-war memories, lost yet not forgotten Latin connections; as did jazz and pop flavours long filtered through closed borders." From these sources and their own ancient Gypsy roots, Zece Prajini's musicians built Fanfare Ciocarlia. Here, accompanied by some of Europe's finest singers, Romania's brass dervishes share tales of life, love and loss. "Queens and Kings" celebrates unity in diversity while standing as a testament to the vision of Ioan Ivancea, Fanfare Ciocarlia's clarinet-playing patriarch, who died in October 2006. To Ioan then, a true Gypsy King, this album is dedicated.
Guests: Saban Bajramovic (Serbia), Esma Redzepova (Macedonia), Jony Iliev (Bulgaria), Ljiljana Butler (Bosnia), Dan Armeanca (Romania), Mitsou (Hungary), Kaloome (France), Kal (Serbia) and Florentina Sandu (Romania)
The album "Queens and Kings" has been released February 23rd 2007 on Asphalt Tango Records.
Zece Prajini (literally meaning 'ten fields') is a village of just four hundred souls, surrounded by gentle mountains and dusty tracks. Situated in the East of Romania, it is no more than a stone's throw from the border with the former Soviet republic of Moldavia. This area of Romania is known for its rugged seclusion and the stubborn poetry of its inhabitants. In the evenings, when the winds calm down, the sounds of the fanfare echo from the surrounding slopes. This is the home of the twelve Romany Gypsy musicians who make up the FANFARE CIOCARLIA brass ensemble.
The art of playing music has been handed down from generation to generation since time immemorial. There is no sheet music. The instruments, bearing the marks of the previous decades, have lost their shine and gained their own patina. On them FANFARE CIOCARLIA manage to set off a musical firework display, with an unbelievable talent for intricate rhythms and dizzy tempos. Traditional dances from Romania and rhythms from Turkey, Bulgaria and Macedonia are played on horns, trumpets, clarinets and timpani. For each different moment in life there is an appropriate piece: geamparale, sîrba, hora, and if the mood requires, a racy ruseasca at the end.
Meanwhile the stars of Gypsy Brass toured almost every country and continent one can think of and even were invited to throw DANNY ELFMAN's 50's birthday party in musical terms down in Hollywood.
The party FANFARE CIOCARLIA kicks off just after entering the stage and which drives everyone sheer mad was also put on celluloid. Director Ralf Marschalleck, Berlin, visualized the two exciting but so different worlds the musicians of the Gypsy Brass Band FANFARE CIOCARLIA live in: the tiny Gypsy village Zece Prajini in Romania and their life on the big concert stages abroad. The full length road movie "Iag Bari Brass On Fire" for cinema release features the musicians' life which is based on an old tradition, a tradition which was discovered by an international fan community to assuage a hunger for a Balkan atmosphere and unleashing brass music. Furthermore the German film director FATIH AKIN fit the musicians in several scenes of his acclaimed movie "HEAD ON", which won the Golden Bear at the International Filmfestival in Berlin 2004. Right now FANFARE CIOCARLIA again is represented in the cinemas all around the world - their cover version of "Born To Be Wild" makes part of the soundtrack of "BORAT".
At the end of October 2004 Asphalt Tango Records released the first DVD of FANFARE CIOCARLIA featuring an entire LIVE CONCERT, the movie 'IAG BARI', two VIDEOCLIPS, a cinematic self-portrait in 8mm by the musicians of the band plus more surprising insights into the life of the Speed Demons of Gypsy Brass.
Discography:
2007 CD "Queens and Kings" (CD-ATR 1207)
2005 CD "Gili Garabdi" (CD-ATR 0605)
2004 DVD "Gypsy Brass Legends"" (DVD-ATR 0404)
2001 CD "Iag Bari" (CD-PIR 1577)
1999 CD "Baro Biao" (CD-PIR 1364)
1998 CD "Radio Pascani" (CD-PIR 1254)

Tracklist:
01. Kan Marau La (Dan Armeanca)
02. Que Dolor (Kaloome)
03. Sandala (Saban Bajramovic)
04. Pana Cand Nu Te Iubeam (Mitsou
05. Cuando Tu Volveras (Kaloome)
06. Duj Duj (Mitsou & Florentina S
07. Ibrahim (Esma Redzepova)
08. Ma Maren Ma (Saban Bajramovic)
09. Mukav Tu (Florentina Sandu)
10. Nakelavishe (Esma Redzepova)
11. Ma Rov (Ljiljana Butler)
12. Mig Mig (Jony Iliev)
13. Farewell March (Ioan Ivancea)
14. Born To Be Wild