There seems to be an explosion of Gypsy music at this time with the upcoming Rough Guide to Gypsy Swing, Les Yeux Noirs' Live CD and now, two Serbian Gypsy recordings, Boban Markovic Orkestra's Balkan Brass Fest and Olah Vince's project band, Earth-Wheel-Sky-Band release, Waltz Rromano.  Award-winning flugelhorn virtuoso and bandleader Boban Markovic returns with his 12 man orchestra and in joined by his 15-year old horn-playing son Marko on the studio recording, Balkan Brass Fest.  And true to the CD's title, you can expect plenty of brass fanfare, an array of guest musicians and a few surprises.

Brass bands are the craze in Serbia and every year in Guca a world renowned brass festival is held and every year, Boban Markovic and his orchestra emerge as one of the festival winners.  The meticulous arranger and horn player Boban has not only enraptured live audiences, but he has also contributed to film director Emil Kusturica's Underground and Arizona Dreaming.  He also starred in Kusturica's musical documentary, released in 2002.  Now, his virtuoso son Marko, who was rumored to have practiced his horn 10 hours a day shares the spotlight with his father, even inventing solos of his own.  Marko made his first live appearance at the festival in 2001, when Boban convinced him to perform a winning song that Boban had grown tired of performing.  Following that, Marko contributed one track, Father's Happiness to the CD Live in Belgrade.  And now he is a full-time band member.

Balkan Brass Fest offers a variety of horn arrangements and at times veers off into other territory including Maurice Larcange's Sanja Samba and Bollywood composer A. R. Rahman's Mere Yaara Dildara.  Magic features Frank London's Klezmer Brass Allstars and Egyptian percussionist Mahmoud Fadl appears on Time and on Mere Yaara Dildara. Back to Han features clarinetist Dilber Jasarevic impassioned solos and guest vocalist Svetlana Spajic Latinovic contributes his talent on the titular track.

Although Serbian brass bands originated with military bands of the Ottoman Empire, your more likely to find Serbian Gypsy brass bands performing at large celebratory festivals or at weddings.  It's not bedtime music, but it will certainly get you out of bed in the morning and have you rushing off to greet the day.  Boban Markovic and his Orchestra dish up effervescent horns coupled with intricate beats and loaded with virtuosity. Also see review for Live In Belgrade.  www.piranha.de

40 year stage veteran, Serbian Gypsy musician-composer Olah Vince returns to the basics on his all-acoustic album, Waltz Rromano.  Featuring, guitar, violin, cimbalom (hammered dulcimer), double bass, percussion and voice, this project ensemble, Earth-Wheel-Sky-Band takes a musical tour through varying Gypsy cultures from around the world.  This recording recalls Italian composer Bob Salmieri's musical collage, Milagro Acustico since both albums act as cultural blenders. The opener, Azija Rromansa combines sound effects with blazing guitar and percussion solos that recall Turkish Gypsy darbuka player, Burhan Ocal's power beats.  This is followed by All the People in the World which highlights call & response vocals tossed over an oriental tapestry.

Vince also visits a variety of musical genres including Spanish-Arabic Gypsy (Only a Man and Music Rroman), Indian light classical, (India Rroma), and classical guitar-jazz (Rroma Adagio Sempre) which slides into a moody tango complete with a signature weeping Gypsy violin. Poor Man brings in the power beats and vocals and Vranje-Rromans highlights musical guest Boban Markovic's trumpet accentuated by oriental beats.  The album ends with the light classical and melancholic A# Rromans.

Earth-Wheel-Sky-Band members include, Toplica Ramiz (percussion), Varga Karlo (violin), Kurina Ferenc (bass), Kurina Michael (Cimbalom) and Olah Vince (guitar, violin, voice).  Hailing from a region in Serbia called Vojvodina,  Gypsy activist and composer Vince marries his Gypsy roots with varying cultural influences, creating music that liberates the spirit.  Along with others Vince is trying to establish Gypsy radio in Novi Sad, "but he can not live without playing music."  And judging from the gorgeous music that graces this recording, let's hope he keeps weaving his imaginative compositions.  www.asphalt-tango.de