“Les Yeux Noirs,” French for “The Black Eyes,” take their name from the title of a Russian Gypsy tune made famous by Django Reinhardt in the 1930’s. 

It’s the perfect mane for the six-piece band from Paris that keeps alive the styles of Eastern Europe’s Gypsies and Jews, with violins, violoncello, accordion, electric guitar and drums.

They remain connected to the Yiddish and Slavic roots of the music with themes originating in Romania, Hungary and Russia. 

With a good dose of Yiddish folklore, Les Yeux Noirs invites you to share in intense moments of emotion and joy as they weave their magic with extraordinary energy. 

Both joyous and nostalgic, this nomadic music perfectly reflects the lives of persecuted people in exile, caught up in a massive diaspora, all with an unshakable will to live. 

Les Yeux Noirs will appear at the Rhythm & Roots Concert Series Saturday, May 10, at 8 p.m. at the Berger Performing Arts Center in Tucson at the Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind, 1200 W. Speedway.

Brothers Eric and Olivier Slabiak founded Les Yeux Noirs nine years ago.   The two classically trained Jewish brothers have played violin since ages 5 and 7 respectively. 

Eric and Olivier have both won first prize at the Brussels Royal Conservatory of Music and share a passion for Yiddish and Gypsy music. 

Les Yeux Noirs were nominated for the Victories de la Musique (French equivalent to the Grammys) in 1998. 

Guitarist Pascal Rondeau studied classical guitar and as a teen-ager discovered Gypsy and Yiddish music.  He played in a Gypsy cabaret for nine years before joining Les Yeux Noirs. 

Bassist Franck Anastasio was born in Montreuil (Paris) in the Gypsy quarter.  Son of a violinmaker, he spent most of his playing time with Gypsy and Russian musicians in Paris. 

A passionate fan of Django Reinhardt and eastern European music, he accompanied Russian Gypsies in the Moscowis Romen Theater for 10 years. 

Francois Perchat studied classical violoncello at the Paris Conservatory of Music.  Following his training he played with a number of orchestras but soon became passionate about Gypsy music and began playing in cabarets before joining Les Yeux Noir. 

On stage, Les Yeux Noirs plays with passion and spontaneity.  The intensity of their performance is evidence of their conviction for the power of the music.