Cirkari

Zingaros are an Argentinian trio specialising in local interpretations of Gypsy and East European classics. Musicians in Eastern Europe have had a long-standing love affair with tango, so it is fitting that these tango virtuosos have decided to repay the compliment. Led more than ably by guitarist Alejandro Montero, with David Macchione on violin and Alexander Garate on accordion, this album at its instrumental best is a stylish affair. Like Astor Piazzolla meets Taraf de Haidouks, the playing is fiery and feisty, possessed of confident swagger.

The vocal tracks, however, struggle to stand out from the crowd, despite their evident musicianship. Their version of the rousing Russian song ‘Tsigani Lyubyat’ is not a patch on the version made famous by the fabulous, underrated French ensemble Bratsch. The Gypsy standard ‘Opa Cupa’ is another case in point, displaying all the flourishes of rumba guitars we would expect without doing anything exceptional with them. ‘Na Mi Naz Oumi, an Armenian love ballad, has more colour, thanks mainly to guest vocalist Evangelina Yigerimian. All in all, this is a high quality album by great musicians who haven't yet found a way to write their own material.