YOU step out of Leicester Square and suddenly you’re in the Balkans. An audience aged 18 to 80 and all up for a jig were heaving in the sweaty attic of the Marquee, dancing their socks off to the Balkan Blues of Szapora, the warm-up support for the Mostar Sevdah Reunion – displaced from the Marquee’s main stage by a double-booked launch for Status Quo’s laughable “40 years in showbiz” DVD. Both bands could actually teach the Quo a thing or two about how to rock.
When the Mostar Sevdah Reunion at last claimed the stage, it was with style. Their “sevdah” music – which means love, desire or ecstasy – kept morale high while the bombs fell in the 1990s and now played in London by the ensemble of two guitars, bass accordion, drums, violin and vocals, it was irresistible. Sweet and melancholy, the dapper white-jacketed Ilijaz Delic warbled - his voice as wrinkled and warm as his walnut face – and his ballads could crack the hardest heart. He ceded the stage to the supreme diva Ljiljana Buttler who, big-bottomed and bedecked in black, wooed a willing and enthusiastic crowd into singing with her the songs that had united them during their war in the nineties. Never mind the Balkans (or indeed the Quo), this was real rock and soul.
MARK ESPINER



By FRANCIS COUVREUX
Same as Etudes Tsiganes below

As they'd thoroughly exhilarated us one and all on a previous memorable occasion, it was a real delight to host once more this outstandingly vibrant nine-piece Balkan Gypsy music ensemble. Now into their tenth year, the former Budapest Cafe Orchestra packed the Talbot stage again and purveyed another evening of wild and atmospheric material from Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, and beyond. Tracks drawn from the excellent new CD 'The Homeland of Our Wanderings' (nice tautology) got a thorough airing and provided plenty of opportunities to showcase the band's unparalleled synergy of musicians from Bosnia (the magnetic Hodzic sisters, guitarist Mirza Halilovic), Poland (the 'Human Jukebox' himself, virtuoso accordionist Vanja Krafczyk), and Britain (including Luke Carver Goss, Wales's Dylan Fowler, and workaholic band supremo and arranger Dave Kelbie). Rhythms, tempos, moods and emotions are in constant flux with this joyous outfit ... and even when the pace is frantic, you feel that Balkan melancholia is never too far below the surface.
Your scribe opted for an early night, but it's reliably reported that the mandatory post-gig session in the back bar lived up to expectations: Szapora, to a man and woman, have music coursing undiluted through their veins, and they're never happier than when they're performing ... even when the Mr and Mrs Punter are home and safely tucked up in bed.
ANDREW HAWKEY

After the opening of borders toward the East, each western country has a several orchestras (bands) with the same estetics of expression.
The 3rd album of this 9-members band based in GB where they are no1 concerning Balkan music, is certainly the most accomplished (and acclaimed by the critics)
Almost half of the members of the band are originally from Bosnia (Mirella and Tea Hodzic - vocals, Mirza Halilovic – vocals & guitar) and from Poland, (Vanja Krafczyk on accordion), who bring an authentic colour to the sound of the band. The second half of the band is composed of the experienced British musicians who adopted this kind of music (Dave Kelbie who accompanies very often Fapy Lafertin, Oli Wilson Dickson, Luke Carver Goss, Dylan Fowler and Paul Moylan) who, altogether, mix their roots and cultures with courage and conviction.
17 songs mostly from the Balkans (Serbia, Macedonia, Romania) some of them very well known (Caj sukarije, Opa-cupa) all the time changing the rhythm and tempo. Sometimes very rapid and energetic with the powerful sound of the accordion violin and guitar, and sometimes soft, light and melancholy.
The authenticity of the sound comes mostly from the arrangements of Dave Kelbie. (for example a fantastic old Serbian song, “Ne kuni me, ne ruzi me Majko” with it's beautiful arrangement).
The original words of the songs are all printed on the cover of the CD alongside the the English translation also.
Altogether, one very good CD.
FRANCIS COUVREUX


Szapora is an international band from London, with front women singers (and guitarists) from Sarajevo, Téa and Mirella Hodzic, as well as actor and singer from Paris, Mirza Halilovic. They are called “Szapora”, and their third CD “The Homeland of our Wanderings” received excellent critics in England as well as all over Europe.

The band plays music from these parts, and is led by an excellent jazz guitarist Dave Kelbie, and also there are some first-class musicians such as Polish accordionist Vanya Krawczyk, violinist Oli Wilson-Dickson and Welsh guitarist Dylan Fowler.

They recorded this album at one of their tours in Wales, where they are very popular. Their repertoire includes sevdalinkas and Roma numbers as well as Macedonian and ballads, music not only from our former homeland but also from all over the world. Band can not only swing very strongly and achieve (create) passionate atmosphere, but also offer “Panonic” melancholy that is so familiar to us, while sisters Hodzic and Mirza Halilovic shine and create an excellent contrast. All in all, this is not only the record for weddings and celebrations, but also for those who will enjoy outstanding instrumental performance as well as excellent vocal interpretations.

There is a possibility that band Szapora will visit Sarajevo, this Summer, to do a concert and record a documentary program.
OGNJEN TVRTKOVIC

Szapora, already known as one of the best European bands performing music of the Balkan peninsula, with a line-up hailing from at least three countries, play to their strengths on this, their third CD. The recording sounds live in the studio, with perhaps a tidying-up here and there, and it retains the energy and warmth of a good show.
New members, guitarist Mirza Halilovic and accordionist Vanja Krawczyk, are very useful additions to an already fine band, who have a good deal of knowledge of and dedication to their chosen music. Luke Goss’s accordion and Oli Wilson-Dickson’s violin are idiomatically fluent and not over emotional, and the whole band backs up singers Mirela and Tea Hodzic beautifully ( for instance on the lovely ‘Kazi, Kazi Libe Stano’) and do a good job of negotiating the sometimes tricky irregular rhythms of this music.
For my taste there is too much Gypsy here, ostensibly passionate but often a little hollow at it’s heart. But there can be no quarrel about the excitement in the music, and the gentler songs – ‘Belo Lice Ljubam Jas’ is an outstanding example – are very effective, with a true emotional charge.
Szapora are at their best on stage, but this CD captures the thrill of their live shows very successfully, and not only will it work as either a souvenir or a curtain-raiser, it’s also a very attractive piece of work on it’s own terms.
KIM BURTON 3 stars (5)


Also in 'Merry Old England' they play Gypsy music. In the multicultural octet Szapora Brits play music together with immigrants from Bosnia and Poland. Sometimes very sad, sometimes fiery-jolly, always infectious. MIKE KAMP

Szapora is an English band that has been playing balkan music since almost ten years now. Four of the nine members are from Bosnia and Poland, the rest are from Britain. On this recent third album most of the music is traditional, but there are some modern compositions as well.
The album is recorded live in a studio and feels spontaneous, varied and vivid. The sisters Mirella and Téa Hodzic from Sarajevo do most of the singing, and they do it great. The instrumental piece Ne kuni me majko combines tranquil violins with an intense rhythm section - amazing. Two accordionists, occasionally a clarinet but mostly strings and percussion. A fine record, really.
ULF TORSTENSSON

UK-Balkan music collective with astonishing mix of inspiring, joyful, evocative music. BUY!

For the last 10 years the Englishman Dave Kelbie has been looking after the Gypsy music in his country. He organises concerts, plays with many musicians from the Balkans and founded Szapora, a multinational Gypsy band, for whom traditional themes from Serbia, Bulgaria, Russia, Romania and Hungary take centre stage and are interpreted in a lively and yearning fashion. Here it’s the accordion, violin, double bass and guitars that are the centre of attention, rather than the infamous brass. Szapora is an English band with an eye on the Balkans and they shine with enthusiasm and technical brilliance. JOERG GEBAUER

SZAPORA is the UK’s best Balkan band and this is their most soulful record to date. Most of the music comes from countries of the former Yugoslavia with plangent accordion, dashing violin and fizzling guitar.
The band’s great assets are the Bosnian vocalists Mirella and Téa Hodzic and the Polish Gypsy accordionist Vanja Krawczyk who bring an authentic Balkan flavour. But the Brits – guitarists Dave Kelbie and Dylan Fowler; accordionist Luke Carver Goss and bassist Paul Moylan – also have a lot of experience with this music and have totally absorbed it.
This CD sounds natural and organic like a genuine musical party, with moments of thrilling ebullience and virtuosity, but rather more moments of retrospection and nostalgia – like most real parties. All that’s missing are the clinks of plum brandy glasses and the sound of sorrows drowning. Play to anyone who complains about immigration. SIMON BROUGHTON
Four stars (5)

Formed in Britain in 1995, Szapora is a nine-piece featuring musicians from Poland to the Balkans who draw on the folk, gypsy and jazz traditions of Eastern and Central Europe. In the past the band has mostly applied itself to stirring instrumentals but for this latest album the song’s the thing: a mix of traditional and relatively new material given soulful voice by two sisters from Sarajevo, which allow the band to explore richer, more nuanced emotional territory.
The romantic melancholy of the accordion, fiddle and guitar sounds almost unbearably exotic to jaded British ears; certainly, the language issue is no barrier to the yearning, nomadic spirit this record taps into so fervently. The only thing better than buying it, would be to see the band perform it live. CLAIRE ALLFREE
Four stars (5)

The group Szapora are based in London but their musical homeland is on the other side of Europe: their repertoire has a 99% focus on Balkan and Eastern European music. The line-up is not standard. Musicians from Central Europe have teamed up with British musicians who are well respected for their work in other, non-related styles, including jazz and classical music, except for guitarist/mandolinist Kelbie who has worked with Fapy Lafertin and Bireli Lagrene. The Homeland of our Wanderings is their 3rd CD and has a good chance of becoming their breakthrough album. Not without reason: analogous to their first 2 CDs we find 17 songs that hold their own. Mainly traditionals from Romania, Macedonia, Serbia and Russia, love songs, dance tunes, instrumental and vocal, where special praise goes to the fantastic singing of sisters Mirella and Téa Hodzic. But we can't pass over the sublime interplay of the instrumentalists, with a leading role for fiddlers Oli Wilson-Dickson and guest Rachel Wilson-Dickson, and accordionists Vanja Krawczyk and Luke Carver Goss. Apart from the traditionals, Szapora play covers of Saban Bajramovic's compositions (Opa Cupa and Sila Kale Bal) which Saban recorded recently with Mostar Sevdah Reunion) The cover of old Spanish hit SR is a very unlikely but well executed choice. The Homeland of our Wandering is without doubt a great listening trip from party music to pure melancholy, but word on the street says the group is especially exciting live. I don't feel in the least inclined to doubt that statement. MARC NOLIS

I was dissapointed with 'The Homeland of Our Wanderings.' There was lots of energetic violin music but with no songs of any consequence. It was very squirelly. 'More Sokol Pije' could have been good but it just wasn't. Whatsmore, 'Zajdi, Zajdi' was messed up towards the end of the main phrase by having extremely ugly and innapropriate chords. I've put the disc away and won't be playing it. Hope you can pass this message on so that the group can improve.

The Homeland of our Wanderings is the third record by the group, and it really could be their breakthrough. The music is strongly rooted in the east European traditions, a little like Goran Bregovic, but above all, the tradition is very subtly treated. The group also has (very much) its own sound, and it has to do more with the leading rhythm guitar and arrangements by Dave Kelbie than with the extraordinary & astonishing voices of the two Bosnian sisters. It naturally helps that we are faced here with top musicians who enjoy playing with more than obvious pleasure.
This is how it happened to us - we put the CD on, listening with half an ear while we were doing something else. Yet there were a couple of songs that immediately caught our ear, such as the moving Ne Kuni Me Majko, where Kelbie with a remarkable rhythm on his guitar delivers an impressive performance, while the violinists play a languid melody on top. Truly magnificent! A few numbers convinced us to put on the CD again just to hear it with more attention. Then some more jewels came up. After a third and fourth hearing a wonderful thing happened that happens only with really great music - the music became better and better, and continues to grow over the days.
Only really great bands dare to play slow tunes and pull it off. Such is the case with this group. Lofty, melancholic, and yet at times pure party music, in which the melancholy is always present beneath the surface. A world-class record of over 75 minutes. HOLLY MOORS

UNLIKE previous albums, which have, essentially, been instrumental with a couple of songs thrown in, this is just the reverse. That's no bad thing. The soulful voices and heart-rending songs of Bosnian sisters Téa and Mirella Hodzic have been sidelined for too long. Additionally, a new singer, Mirza Haliliovic, also from Bosnia, joins the line-up.
Another significant change is the loss of Christian Garrick - a violinist in a class of his own. But, if they've lost one instrumental virtuoso, they've gained another in Polish piano accordionist Vanja Krafczwk, whose playing is truly breathtaking. A strong Welsh contingent adds to the band's power. Luke Goss contributes diatonic accordion, Oli Wilson-Dickson violin and Dylan Fowler's clarinet is particularly notable. It's a line-up of which founder, guiatarist/mandolin player Dave Kelbie, should be immensely proud.
While some things have changed, one constant is the type of music Szapora play. As with past albums, this is a collection of, mainly, central and eastern European Gypsy music. Much is traditional, though several songs are from the pen of legendary Serbian singer, Saban Bajramovic. One exception is an interpretation of the 1960s Spanish hit Soy Rebelde. It sits quite comfortably among the other pieces.
At times acutely melancholic, at others emotionally exhilarating, the band always performs with a flair and a vitality that should, in a just world, make this album a huge success.
KEITH HUDSON

The Homelands of Our Wanderings (Lejazzetal, £13.99), is the latest CD by Szapora, a British-based band that draws its repertoire from the Balkans: Romania, Serbia, Macedonia, Bulgaria and in particular the gypsy heritage of middle and eastern Europe. They produce energetic and heart-wrenching music, turbo-driven by two accordionists - Luke Goss (UK) and Polish gypsy virtuoso Vanja Krawczyk (Poland) - and sung by Sarajevan sisters Téa and Mirella Hodzic. The line-up is completed by Bosnian guitarist Mirza Halilovic and four more Brits, including Dave Kelbie on mandolin, guitar and darbuka. Kelbie is a familiar mover and shaker on the Gypsy jazz scene, but there's no sense of contrived "fusion". Szapora have developed a style of playing that's vigorous and free within the parameters of their Balkan/gypsy repertoire, which they perform with great relish. JOHN WALTERS

Intoxicating British-based exponents of Balkan music, Szapora first caught my ear through their connection with the jazz violinist Christian Garrick. A chance encounter at Womad with the group’s Bosnian singer, Tea Hodzic, whetted my appetite further. Though Garrick has gone his own way (Oli Wilson-Dickson fills his role), the band has lost none of its dynamism. Recorded in deepest Abergavenny, the music evokes an enchanting breakneck journey through eastern Europe’s byways, every note oozing authenticity. Dave Kelbie’s guitar sways in the background as the accordions dance their ritual steps. CLIVE DAVIS Four stars (5)

The nightmare logistics of organizing and uniting a geographically-dispersed multiple-line-up band, most of whose members have numerous other musical and career commitments elsewhere, were vividly demonstrated by Szapora - especially as this was the very first gig by this splendid 1995-formed Gypsy music outfit in its new nine-piece incarnation. From the moment they arrived, even before the soundcheck, band members who'd been rehearsing in isolation were intently running through new material together for the first time. In the circumstances, we could certainly forgive them the occasional lapse and moment of uncertainty in a performance that more than lived up to our expectations. This really was a triumphant debut show.
Szapora's material is drawn from all over middle and eastern Europe - including Serbia, Romania, Russia, Hungary, Macedonia, and Bulgaria - and it's universally characterized by the distinctive melodic structures of that region, and driven by the seemingly unquenchable vigour and passion of those often strife-ridden nations (maybe a bit more strife on these shores is what's needed to shake up Britain's often-complacent folk music - now there's a subject for trenchant debate in our website's Visitors' Book!). The fact that five of the band (founder and co-ordinator Dave Kelbie on guitar and mandolin, Welsh folk star Dylan Fowler on guitar, mandocello, clarinet, whistle, and percussion, Paul Maylan on double bass, Luke Goss (no, not that one) on accordion, and Ollie Wilson-Dixon on violin) are British is all the more remarkable: their empathy and understanding of the genre seems uncanny, and entirely authentic. The combined vocals of sisters Téa and Mirella Hodzic (originally from Sarajevo) would raise the hairs on the nape of any sentient being's neck, while the occasional vocals of Mirza Halilovic (guitar and percussion) are equally evocative. Last but by no means least, the astonishing accordion playing of Vanja Krawczyk (flown in from Poland on Thursday) is the beating heart of the band, surely doing for the European/Balkan approach to that fiendish instrument what Flaco Jiminez has done for the American style.
Writing down song titles is something no sane person would
attempt at a Szapora gig, but suffice to say that some things
started slow, and stayed that way, but rather more things
either started slow and got faster, or started fast and got
supersonic. A fair number of punters opted for dancing, while the rest of us simply sat and marvelled at the wizardry on stage. At the end of the night, three band members drove back to Abergavenny,
while the remainder re-convened in the back bar, where a
memorable post-gig session ensued fuelled by not a few beverages ... Vanja, in particular, was clearly capable of playing non-stop all night - he has (get this) a twenty-piece Polish folk-dance band variously based in London and Poland. Now, how's that for a logistical challenge?

© Dave Kelbie of Lejazzetal
davekelbie@lejazzetal.com
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