Led by a pair of classically trained brothers on violin, Les Yeux Noirs creates some of the most joyful and rhythmic folk music imaginable.

The gypsy band from Paris sings primarily in Yiddish, re-creating folklore and music taken from Romania, Serbia, Hungary, Russia and Armenia.

Les Yeux Noirs is French for “The Black Eyes,” which is the title of a Russian gypsy tune made famous by Django Reinhardt in the 1930s.

There is a strong jazz influence mixed into the infectious melodies that are driven by brothers Erik and Olivier Slabiak on violin and vocals.  They are joined by four talented musicians on guitar, cello, accordion and percussion.

The words sound foreign, but the music crosses all cultural barriers with head-bobbing rhythms often played at dizzyingly fast speeds.  The instrumentals on Les Yeux Noirs’ 2002 CD “Balamouk” are its highlights, showcasing the Slabiaks on violin and also the rest of this energetic band. You can’t help but smile when you hear the accordion pumping furiously along with the violins on the lively piece “Trionica.”

Les Yeux Noirs performs the music that has moved people to sing and dance in their homeland for centuries.  The group combines traditional Central European songs and original compositions, creating an intense sensory journey of words and song.

The heartfelt vocals are masterfully woven into the music, taking the listener to another time and place.

The arrangements are spontaneous and fun, and the words are sung in Yiddish, Russian and Roma.  The stories they tell have been passed down for generations when groups of nomads joined families in spontaneous gatherings, that featured story-telling and music, usually inseparably joined.

Some of their songs celebrate love and are meant to be performed at weddings and special occasions.  Others are laments telling sadder storied about life’s struggles.

It all fits together well on the “Balamouk, “ which means “House of Fools,” in Romanian.

Les Yeux Noirs is on the last leg of an extensive U.S. tour that ends in April and included shows at the Hollywood Bowl, Stern Grove Festival in San Francisco and the Mondo Pop Festival in Seattle.