Gypsy Crims

'Awesome music. Your stuff is really incredible’ (Tommy Emmanuel)

The Gypsy Crims are a Melbourne based group performing Infectious Gypsy Flamenco guitar music.

Orlando is a self taught flamenco guitarist and the main composer of the group, He was born in Sydneys Northern Beaches and spent most of his childhood listening watching or playing flamenco, he is inspired by the gypsy Flamenco artists of Spain and also an accomplished Oud player which has led him to his own very unique style. Endorsed by Ostrie Music USA with Daniel Mari Flamenco guitar strings and with recent sponsorship he now owns a 1973 Conde Hermanos guitar hand made by Paco de lucia's guitar builder (Faustino Conde) who was considered while he was alive as the worlds best maker of flamenco guitars. Orlando is currently recording his flamenco guitar compositions for his first solo album which will be mixed and mastered at Woodstock Studios Melbourne. The album will also feature Orlando's Oud playing and many other Melbourne Flamenco artists.

Juan Martinez Ortega is the only full blooded spanish flamenco guitarist in Australia descending from a family of gypsy flamenco artists in Andalucia. Juan currently holds the reigns to the fastest flamenco picado in Australia and has had hits in the Aria Charts alongside Peter Dickson with there album Falsetas 1996 (Sanity Music) Juan being older and more experienced within the Flamenco artform is the dedicated navigator to the trio and will be featured as second guitarist and as a soloist on Orlando's album.

Michael Kontachristos accompanies the two maestro guitarists on the cajon and is one of the worlds finest percussionists, he currently teaches at the Victorian College of the Arts. Michael's unique and exciting style of percussion is based on Latin American and Middle Eastern techniques. Staying true to the flamenco Artform he has spent more than half his life performing in Australia.

The Gypsy Crims can also perform with Flamenco dancers, some of who recently were featured in (Carmen the Opera) at the Melbourne Arts Centre Hamer Hall and overseas, whilst also being able to incorperate Belly Dancers from the institute of Underbelly Belly Dance School in Melbourne, Belly Dancers will be accompanied by Oud performed by Orlando and Darabouka performed by Michael.

Represented by MultiCultural Arts Victoria, the Gypsy Crims have performed at the Arts Centre of Victoria as support act to Europe's largest 40 piece Gypsy Big Band (The Gypsy Queens and Kings) which featured Esma Redzepova - (Queen of the Gypsies) and the Malt House Theatre alongside Simon Palomares in his recent theatre production (Its complicated) Whilst at Manchester lane Orlando has performed solo as support act to Lulo Reinhardt (Gypsy Jazz Guitarist) from the famous Django Reinhardt Gypsy Family.

The Gypsy Crims are available for weddings, corporate and private functions and can accomodate all needs, allowing up to an 8 piece. Contact Orlando for function enquiries on 0400-119-125.