Don't Worry, Be Gypsy

There's always been a high correlation between Bulgarian musicians of all callings and immense virtuosity, and the correlation becomes even greater when Roma musicians are singled out. Expat accordionist Martin Lubenov and his band, based in Vienna, are no exception. Taking the early 70s underground phenomenon of Bulgarian wedding dance bands as a starting point, they mix jazz licks and patterns with more native sounds in a breakneck display of more and more notes squeezed into smaller and smaller spaces as a song progresses.

This is, at root, a sort of jazz exotica album, although one that is outstandingly well played, and incorporates Latin, Brazilian, Turkish Roma, Bollywood swing and other dance rhythms. The band (with a host of guests expanding the accordion and saxophone core of the group into a small brass band) also incorporates a singer, whose voice and rather mannered, vibrato-laden style is something of an acquired taste, and one I admit I have so far failed to acquire. Still, it's impossible not to admire the intensity and precision of the performance, and there is plenty of pawky humour throughout, especially in the closer, ‘Mangole’.