FANFARE CIOCARLIA - Onwards To Mars!

Fanfare Ciocarlia, the world's foremost brass band, celebrate their 20th anniversary in 2016. Hailing from a tiny village in north east Romania, Fanfare have gone on to conquer the world's stages with their hugely exciting performances while each Ciocarlia album has topped the European World Music charts, driven DJs crazy and inspired countless imitators.

Now, with "Onwards To Mars!", Fanfare Ciocarlia take another giant leap forward: here the band both dig deep into their rural Romanian roots while demonstrating what they have learnt on their travels. Long standing fans will appreciate the band's earthy roots music with two traditional Romanian songs sung by senior member Radulescu Lazar (Un Tzigan Avea O Casa and Trenul Masina Mica) and the very slow Balkan Blues of Doina. Fans will also recognise a new arrangement of Mista Lobaloba, a longtime favourite. Things get intriguing when Fanfare cover Bunica Bate Toba by hugely popular Moldovian Rock band Zdob si Zdub.

And they go completely crazy when they invite Romanian Gypsy Blues singer Iulian Canaf to sing the classic Screamin' Jay Hawkins tune, I Put A Spell On You! Another collaboration is Fiesta de Negritos; Fanfare recorded this in Medellín together with Puerto Candelaria, one of Colombia's leading Cumbia bands. Dig the Latin-Balkan groove! There are also seven tunes here by celebrated composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist Koby Israelite, four of which he composed specifically for Fanfare.

"Onwards To Mars!" is an album to savour and an album to party to.

"Onwards To Mars!" cover is designed by Paul Hitter, a famous Romanian Gypsy painter who now lives in Los Angeles.

2016 sees Fanfare Ciocalia feature in a BBC TV documentary while they will continue to bring their raucous, good time music to stages across Europe, the Americas, Asia, the Middle East and Oceania. Most importantly, they release "Onwards To Mars!" an album that will drive the band's fans wild with joy and win them new converts. Remember, Fanfare Ciocarlia are Gypsy wizards and they continue to put a spell on you and you and you and...
Garth Cartwright

Musicians:

Costica “Cimai” Trifan – trumpet, vocals, Radulescu Lazar – trumpet
Paul Marian Bulgaru – trumpet, Trifan Craciun – trumpet
Oprica Ivancea - clarinet, alto saxophone, Daniel Ivancea - alto saxophone
Constantin “Pinca” Cantea – tuba, Monel “Gutzel” Trifan – tuba
Constantin “Sulo” Calin - tenor horn, Laurentiu Mihai Ivancea - baritone horn
Costel “Gisniaca” Ursu - large drum, Nicolae Ionita – percussion

special guests:
Iulian Canaf - vocals, Vladut Ivancea - clarinet, Kai Schönburg - drums, Michael Metzler - percussion, Koby Israelite - drums & accordion, Maite Hontelé - trumpet

Tracks

1. Crayfish Hora / 2. Mista Lobaloba / 3. 3 Romanians / 4. Trenul, masina mica / 5. Out to lounge / 6. I put a spell on you (feat. Iulian Canaf) / 7. Cucuritza / 8. Doina pentru o inima frant / 9. Bunica bate toba / 10.Saintes & Dates / 11.Un tigan avea o casa / 12.The Patrons Funeral / 13.Hora Strengarilor / 14.Fiesta de negritos (feat. Puerto Candelaria)