Les Yeux Noirs Live [EMI France/World Village 468019 (2002)]

Les Yeux Noirs is a French group who play a strong blend of Yiddish and Gypsy music, with forays into French Gypsy jazz.  It’s a logical fusion of sounds, both the Gypsies and the Jews having often been oppressed and forced into exile, and the group makes an exciting contribution to the music the music of both cultures.  The group was founded by two brothers who sing and play violin, but it also features accordion, cello, guitar, cimbalom, bass, and percussion.  Balamouk, the group’s previous album from 2002, was impressive, but this Live album reveals the excitement that the group can generate in person.  Les Yeux Noirs often start its songs slowly and then build them up to a frenetic level of virtuosity.  A good portion of the group’s material is traditional, but its version of Khatchaturian’s famous “Danse du Sabre” is almost as exciting as Dave Edmunds’ performance of it with Love Sculpture in the late 60s.  The album ends with a beautiful bonus track featuring a children’s choir.