This 11-piece Romanian brass band plays a type of ecstatic, hyper, adrenaline-fueled gypsy music sometimes affectionately referred to as speed brass. After hearing just a couple of songs, it will not be hard to see why. This group is amazingly fast and tight, and their performances have a contagious energy that can be clearly felt whatever one's familiarity with the genre. The rhythm section consists of a couple of tubas and a lone bass drum, with the rest of the lineup composed of trumpets, clarinet...   [ read more ]

CD $24.68

CD $24.68

Whatever they put in the water in Romania, these musicians from the Fanfare bands must imbibe freely, since they play at speeds beyond normal human comprehension. Not that they can't slow it down a bit, as they do, at least on the beginning of the dance "Besh O Drom," before the accordion goes into a face-off with the brass players which will leave the listener -- never mind the musicians -- gasping for breath. This is essentially village music raised to the very highest levels, played with fire, panach...   [ read more ]

CD $24.68