VA - Putumayo Presents: Gypsy Caravan (2001)

Gypsies (or Roma, as they prefer to call themselves) are one of the most misunderstood and unfairly stereotyped cultures on the planet. Much of what is known about them comes from media treatments that only scratch the surface of this colorful and complex culture. This new release from Putumayo is an effort to break down those stereotypes by dipping into some of the permutations of Romani music from various European countries. As might be expected, music from Hungary makes up the bulk of the tracks (five out of 11), but there are some fine examples of French gypsy jazz (Coco Briaval's tribute to Django Reinhardt, the classic "Les Yeux Noirs" ["Dark Eyes"]) and Spanish flamenco (Miguel Angel Cortés' "Al Likindoy"). With the exception of these tracks and one or two others, much of what is here has a rustic, folkloric quality, with simple arrangements and straightforward harmonies. Hungarian quartet Kalyi Jag uses only guitar with milk jug percussion in its subtle yet infectious "Mori Shej, Sabina" ("My Daughter, Sabina"). As with many Putumayo releases, this is not intended to be the definitive genre sampler. It is more a primer in Gypsy Music 101, a not-so-in-depth survey of a smattering of styles. The liner notes are typically breezy and informative enough for the casual listener. As usual, there are no translations of the lyrics, but the spirit of the music makes up for this.