Taraf de Akácfa - Geamparale de la Clejani

Geamparale de la Clejani (adapted from original recording by Taraf de Haïdouks of Clejani, Romania).

Musicians:
Lulu Starr -violin
Johannes Olsson - accordion
Ion Curteanu - cimbalom
Isaac Misri - guitar
Molnár Bálint - koboz
Dénes Ábel- double bass

Live recording of a reunion concert at Lumen Café, Budapest.
October 19, 2023.

Photos by: Kása Béla, Lulu Starr, Leslie Guimaraes, Balcony Players Archive, Ana Amorós López, Simone Carmack Drago, Pino Buoro, Lieszkosky László, Johannes Olsson.

Video produced by Lulu Starr.
Audio recording and mixing: Pap Dávid Tamás.

Taraf de Akácfa © ℗ (Audio / Video).
All Rights Reserved.

Taraf de Akácfa was created in 2014 by traveling street musicians who serendipitously met in Budapest, Hungary in an international collective house on Akácfa street. The founding members of the group came from the United States, Sweden, Hungary and France, and eventually chose to stay in Budapest, where they experienced constant musical inspiration and could share their common passion for Eastern European and Balkan folk music. Their current musical repertoire is predominantly centered around Romanian lăutarească, Moldovan and Transylvanian folk music, and they also perform a variety of folk music from the Balkans. While the formation of the band has changed and now the majority of the current members are native Hungarians, one thing has always remained; the shared curiosity and enthusiasm for this complex and dynamically rich traditional music. Taraf de Akácfa mixes the different musical and cultural backgrounds of its members, while tastefully blending different styles of folk music with innovative ideas and arrangements. They honor the sources and traditions which they draw upon, all while adding their own unique interpretation and style. Over the years, the members traveled throughout Romania, Moldova and Hungary, researching the origins of the songs which they play. They have had the opportunity to learn from some of the greatest folk musicians, most notably those of Taraf de Haidouks as well as Marcel Râmba, who heavily influenced their current repertoire. In 2016 the band recorded their first self- titled album in Budapest. In 2018 their second full length album “Trei Focuri” was recorded at Pheonix Studio in Diósd, Hungary. Both albums can be found on Amazon, iTunes, Spotify, CD Baby, Google Play and Deezer.