Kal (Serbia)

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To be a 21st Century Gypsy in Serbia involves navigating a potentially explosive cultural and social minefield. Currently no one acts as a more forthright guide through this mess of history, myths, traditions, prejudice and community pride than Belgrade's Kal..

Kal are a young band with a rock 'n' roll attitude, fuelled on dance beats and rooted in the Balkan blues. In their wit, imagination, ability to throw disparate sounds together and refusal to play by "folkloric" rules Kal mark themselves as both part of Balkan Gypsy tradition and 21st Century Roma cultural activists.

Kal play traditional Romani folk music and contemporary Romani music based on traditional tunes; Kal use guitar, violin, accordions, acoustic bass, percussion and vocals in the production of their music.

Kal’s acoustic instrumentation reflects an older style of Romani music from before the time of electric instruments. In these songs you can find much in common with a wide variety of musical styles, such as Serbian, Vlach, Macedonian and Latin.

Soon after its founding, Kal took part in the biggest pop festival in Yugoslavia, Budva 97. Since then, Kal has appeared regularly at many venues in Serbia and Hungary including Pepsi-sziget (2001,2002,2004), Bahia, Fono, Rackert, and stages in Belgrade – and collaborated with top Hungarian Romani bands such as Kalyi Jag, Ando Drom, and Ternipe. Kal performed recently at the festival "La notte di san Lorenzo" in Milano, Italy, organized by the cultural association "Arci", at the 11th European Biennale of Young Artists in Athens and in 2004 Kal toured in UK(15 concerts) with the great sucsess. Also this year Kal played at “Exit”, famous international festival in Novi Sad (Serbia and Montenegro)

The members of Kal are: Dragan Ristic(guitar &lead vocal), Dragan Mitrovic (accordeon), Vladan Mitrovic (accordeon&vocal) , Djordje Belkic (violin), Dragan Runic (double bass), Neat Junuzi (percussion), Vladimir Stojkovic (percussion)

Discography

1997 Compilation Violeta&Kal: "Budva '97" (Komuna);

1998 Compilation "World Rhythms"( United One Records, Germany);

1998 "Balkan Ambience" (Marko's music- Bulgaria);

2000 Compilation "A zenne unnepe", with Louise Attaque, France, and Muzsikas, Hungary (France Cultural Institute);

2002 Kal: “Kal” (Galbeno);

2003 Compilation "Romano Suno" (B92, Serbia), with Esma Redzepova,

Taraf de Haidouks, Boban Markovic orchestra, and other well-known European Romani bands and artists; 2004 Compilation   Srbija: Sounds Global 3 (B92, Serbia)

The CD "Kal" is available online at www.galbeno.co.yu, or in the United

Copyright © 2005 - 2009
Last modified: 02/23/11