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PHONE: 510-444-4999 ▪ FAX: 510-444-4752
PHONE: 212-366-1771 ▪ FAX: 212-367-8393
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, September 15, 2009
Ben Yonas
ben@yonasmedia.com
510-444-4999
HUNGARY'S MOST AUTHENTIC GYPSY VILLAGE
BAND COMES TO THE RICKSHAW STOP
OAKLAND, CA — Parno Graszt, the gypsy band from a tiny village in northeast Hungary, is about to add the United States
and Canada to the list of countries enslaved by its irresistable, haunting Roma melodies and syncopations. The band kicks off
a monthlong, 22-date North American tour on September 12th.
A fixture on the European festival circuit, Parno Graszt is the band other gypsy musicians look to for inspiration and
authenticity. Its members come from Paszab, a town on the Tisza river in Hungary’s poorest, least developed region. Roma
music and traditions continue to flourish in Paszab; half a century ago, a prescient village elder devoted himself to preserving
gypsy culture, particularly music and dance.
Parno Graszt was formed in 1987 and consists of several generations of one large family. “Nobody in our group has ever
trained in music. My mother Erzsebet Nemeth envisioned a band and goaded me to form one that would sing our kind of
music,” explains bandleader Joszef Olah. “Anything that can be used to create sound is an instrument for us. We’ve even
rubbed our fingers on door surfaces to create melody.”
There are nine core members of Parno Graszt — Jozsef Olah (vocals, guitar, tambura), Geza Balogh (vocals, guitar, dance),
Viktor Olah (vocals, guitar, dance), Sandor Horvath (vocals, spoons, dance), Janos Jakocska (vocals, guitar), Maria Varadi
(vocals, dance), Maria Balogh (vocals, dance), Krisztian Olah (accordion), Janos Olah (double bass) and Istvan Nemeth (oral
bass, milk can) — but it is not unusual for the core to be augmented by other members of the family and other instruments,
such as cimbalom, accordion, violins and taragot.
Parno Graszt’s first album, Rávágok a zongorára (Hit the Piano) was released in 2002 and reached No. 7 on the European
world music chart. The band’s second album, Járom az utam (...In My World), featuring Hungarian cimbalom master
Kálmán Balogh, was released in 2004. Ez a világ nekem való (This World Is Made for Me), released in 2007, marked the
band’s 20th anniversary. The disc features a version of the Parno Graszt song “Gelem Gelem” by renowned remix master DJ
Gaetano Fabri. Songs from the album are included on the compilations “Rough Guide to the Music of Hungarian Gypsies”
and “BalkanBeats 3.”
The Brass Menazari will be the main support for the show at the Rickshaw Stop on Thursday, October 8, 2009. The Brass
Menažeri (pronounced "Menagerie") is the San Francisco Bay Area's Balkan Romani ("Gypsy") powerhouse Brass Band.
They cascade through the music of the Serbian, Macedonian, Greek & Rajasthani Roma with wild rhythms, soulful vocals &
www.yonasmedia.com
M E D I A A D V I S O R Y
WEST ▪ 1625 BROADWAY ▪ OAKLAND CA 94612
EAST ▪ 602 E. 14TH ST. 2ND FLOOR ▪ NEW YORK NY 10009
PHONE: 510-444-4999 ▪ FAX: 510-444-4752
PHONE: 212-366-1771 ▪ FAX: 212-367-8393
hot improvisations. The energy is infectious—toes tap, bodies slam, sweat flies as vital energy radiates from the dance floor.
The Brass Menažeri is a shining example of traditional Balkan repertoire combined with new sensibilities, innovative
arrangements & original compositions at the hands & lips of American devotees. They were also the winner of the SF
Weekly's 2008 Music awards in the "Best International Band" category!
To find out more about Parno Graszt, please visit http://www.myspace.com/parnograszt
To find out more about Brass Menazeri, please visit http://brass.menazeri.com/
To schedule an interview or request promotional materials, please contact Mike Courtney at Yonas Media by telephone at 510.444.4999 or
email at mike@yonasmedia.com
What:
Concert
Who:
Parno Graszt
Brass Menazeri
More TBA
When:
Thursday, October 8th, 2009
Doors – 7:30PM
Where:
Rickshaw Stop
155 Fell St
San Francisco, California 94102
Tickets:
$10 adv/$12 door
Ages:
All Ages
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