Hai la Drum
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Hai la Drum

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Music

The best kept secret in music

Press


"ROMANY RHYTHMS"

Simon Broughton, Evening Standard30.04.07 Romany rhythms The atmosphere at Le Quecumbar is more 1930s Paris or Brussels than Balkan "Imagine you're in the Balkans", said Sylvia, the flamboyant hostess at Le Quecumbar, "Don't be boring and English, make lots of noise!" So from the beginning Romanian Gypsy violinist Vasile Stanescu got wild whoops and clapping from the crowd. Actually, the atmosphere at Le Quecumbar isn't Balkan, but more 1930s Paris or Brussels. From the outside it's clearly a converted pub, but inside it's a congenial Gypsy music café with candles, art nouveau lights, old black-and-white photos and a little stage in the corner ringed by luxuriant potted plants. Certainly it doesn't feel like Battersea. Stanescu was born in Bucharest into a family of Gypsy musicians going back, he says, some 250 years. He started playing aged seven and clearly has had some classical training alongside his Gypsy tradition. His band, Hai La Drum (Hit the Road), is essentially British, despite their Romany name, playing accordion, guitar and double bass. He started with some Romanian tunes with heavily ornamented fiddle playing, before slipping into Ciocarlia (The Lark). This is a cliché Romanian Gypsy piece usually trotted out as an encore and it was brave to throw it in early on and keep it fresh with a musical integrity plus spectacular bird effects. Stanescu's violin techniques include spectral harmonics, double stopping and a spectacular left-hand pizzicato with a panache I've only seen matched by Maxim Vengerov. Stanescu and the band toss musical phrases back and forth and Le Quecumbar clearly thrives on this sort of quality musical vibe. The repertoire ranged from Romanian tunes to Russian classics and Django-style Gypsy swing. The warmth, camaraderie and ambience took us to another world, far from London. Four stars for the music, but the location made it a five-star treat. - EVENING STANDARD


Discography

Demo CD Work in progress 2007

Photos

Bio


BAZ STANESCU. VIOLIN Born somewhere near Bucharest between 1955 and 1960, Baz
comes from a musical dynasty and can trace his musician ancestors back 450
years. Baz is a living representation of the training undergone by
Romanian musicians during the years of gypsy slavery `(pre 19th century), a
remarkable tradition that has been passed down for many generations. His phenomenal style of playing combines a powerful conservatoire technique with
genuine gypsy style swing, exceptional stamina and extraordinary commitment.
Baz has resided for long periods in many European countries including the UK
and in North Africa. Currently based in Bucharest, Romania.

JONNY HEPBIR. GUITAR Born 1964 in Turkey of Turkish and Irish parents Jonny’s family eventually settled in southern England when Jonny was a teenager. For over ten
years Jonny has developed a profile in the UK gypsy jazz scene and is now recognised as one of the top guitarists in this style in the UK, giving many
workshops and performances. He has played with Bireli Larene, Colin Cosimini,
Tim Kliphuis and released his own album on US label “ Refined “ records,
featuring Robin Nolan and Baz Stanescu, in 1997.

PETE WATSON . ACCORDION A Londoner with family roots that can be traced back to Moldova/Ukraine in the early 1800s, born in 1963. An accordionist known for his balkan-influenced accordion style and compositions. He has performed or
recorded with Gilad Atzmon, Balkanatics, Laxula, and Tim Kliphuis. In 2002 he
was one of the directors of the “festival of Romanian music” held at the Union
Chapel, Islington and he has worked for the London-based jazz collective “Jazz Umbrella”.

DAN SHEPPARD . DOUBLE BASS Graduate of Chichester Music College and one of the most in demand musicians in the city of Brighton known for his impressive technical command of the double bass. Played with many different musicians and genres
of music recently with Jimmy Scott at Ronnie Scott’s London.