The Budapest Cafe Orchestra

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The Budapest Café Orchestra play powerful and driving folk-based music from Eastern Europe inspired by the music of European gypsies.   The richness and dynamism of Balkan music is on display here in all its untamable glory in a wide-ranging programme of impassioned Hungarian Czardas, tender Russian folk melodies, rollicking dances from Romania and Moldavia, bitter sweet Jewish laments, one or two electrifying compositions of the group's own making plus a few surprises along the way...  The music evokes vivid images of Tzigane fiddle maestros, Budapest café life and gypsy campfires - good enough to make you want to book a holiday along the Danube!

Comprising four fabulous players of violins, guitar, accordion, double bass, saz & balalaika the BCO boasts some of the country’s most revered international stars: Eddie Hession has accompanied Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras and Chris Rea and is a supreme accordion champion of Great Britain; Chris Garrick is one of Europe’s most celebrated jazz violinists and has performed with Dame Cleo Laine & Sir John Dankworth, Wynton Marsalis, Nigel Kennedy and Duffy.  The band boasts one of Russia's most valuable exports in the shape of Adrian Zolotuhin, a master of strummed strings and buff recording engineer besides.  Veteran bass-man Kelly Cantlon has been in the business of laying down low notes for many many moons.  He is an original founding band member of the BCO and remains its backbone and grounding force.

“Back by popular demand, the fiery vivacity and awe-inspiring musicianship of the finest purveyors of Eastern European gypsy music this side of a Lada scrap heap will leave you with a grin on your face and rhythm in your feet…”  

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