David Dalle
Thursday June 2nd, 2016 with David Dalle
Fanfare Ciocarlia from obscurity in rural Romania to world domination

It is with extreme pleasure that I am able to say that Fanfare Ciocarlia, the famed Romani brass band from Romania will be performing in Ottawa for the first time in a few weeks at the Ottawa Jazz Festival! Unlike some other famous Romani brass bands like Boban Markovic Orkester from Serbia, Fanfare Ciocarlia were completely unknown outside of their tiny farming village in rural Romania where they farmed or did other work for a living, but played music for all the weddings, funerals and other celebrations around the village. There was a location "ethnomusicological" recording of the band made in 1989 and released by Buda music in France, but it was not until 1996 that they were discovered by German Henry Ernst and brought to play in Germany. Since then they have exploded internationally. I saw them twice at the Montreal Jazz Festival in their first North American appearance in 1998, and again in Toronto in 2012. This will be their first Ottawa appearance (I believe). THEY ARE A PHENOMENAL LIVE EXPERIENCE!!! We will hear a retrospective from their first recording in 1989 up to the album "Devil's Tale" they recorded in Toronto with Canadian guitarist Adrian Raso who will be appearing with them. http://ottawajazzfestival.com/artists/fanfare-ciocarlia/ Westfest is taking place this weekend in Laroche Park in Hintonburg, and the Souljazz Orchestra is headlining Saturday night with a long set 9-11pm. and ALL FREE! http://www.westfest.ca/schedule