Earth Wheel Sky Band
Waltz Romano
Waltz Rromano
Asphalt Tango Records
www.asphalt-tango.de

Olah Vince, a Gypsy activist, and his Earth-Wheel-Sky-Band are from Novi Sad, Serbia. They have performed for almost 40 years. Vince is trying to help other Gypsy musicians by establish a gypsy raid in Novi Sad.

Vince takes Earth-Wheel-Sky Band and the listener on a musical fantasy journey through Gypsy waltzs, gypsy cocek, tango, ragga and horo. They play high energy dance music and heart felt ballads. They use only basic instrumentation - guitar, violin, cymbal doublebass, percussion and voice. No keyboards or electronics.

This is indeed a musical fantasy journey. If you pay attention, as you should, the tracks slip almost unnoticed from one to the next. Sometimes they wander through sound recordings of trains or crowded rooms full of conversation and clinking glasses. This music is played from the heart and soul. Even if you aren't familiar with Gypsy music you will get a sense of being there and hearing it played live. If you close your eyes you can almost smell it.

Key Track: Sae Rroma, Ando Them (All the people in the world)

Reviewed by: Keith Quillen