| |
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
On the surface of it, playing Balkan gypsy music might seem to
be something best left to Balkan gipsies. I mean, a quick gander
at the personnel listing of this 23 piece orchestra, Zulya and
a couple of Slavonic surnames notwithstanding, might prompt the
uninitiated to toss This Drink, This Moon back in the rack. Don’t.
I saw the 8 piece version of Doch at the Jamberoo folk Festival
in September 2004 and they blew me away with their wild, nutty
musicianship and wicked sense of humour.
This Drink, This Moon is a live recording of the big, big band
in fine fettle mixing their unique brand of march band, funk,
latin, flamenco, jazz and gipsy sounds with a ying-yang of explosive
solos on violin, clarinet, trumpet and guitar balanced with a
level of musicianship rarely heard in Australian world music.
Couple this with the fact that you have a bunch of musicians who
not only thoroughly enjoy what they’re doing but communicate
it in no uncertain terms to an enthusiastic audience and you’ve
got a band that can proudly hold its head alongside the best the
world has to offer.
Most importantly Doch don’t convey the impression of having
laboriously studied Balkan dance music. Instead they have become
the music they play, and it rings loud and clear with its own
dramatic authenticity. One of Australia’s leading singers
Zulya sings on several numbers, the icing on a very exciting cake.
|
|
|
