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Led by jazz violin superstar Christian Garrick The Budapest Café Orchestra play traditional folk and gypsy flavoured music from across the Balkans and Russia. Klezmer, Romanian Doinas, Hungarian Czadas and beautiful ballads - such as the theme to Schindler's List and Andy Statman's beautiful Flatbush Waltz -are all featured.
Evoking vivid images of Tzigane fiddle maestros, Budapest café life and gypsy campfires - plus a few surprises along the way - hugely entertaining, immense skill and profound musicianship, a show by the BCO is good enough to make you want to book that holiday down the Danube! Alike the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain the Budapest Café Orchestra have won legions of fans through their infectious performances.
A small but impeccably formed orchestra of just four players, the BCO combines violin, guitar, accordion, double bass, saz & balalaika creating an aural alchemy so awesome, normally only characteristic of far bigger ensembles. Two of the country’s most revered international soloists revel at the heart of proceedings. Accordionist exemplar Eddie Hession is a supreme accordion champion of Great Britain. In his illustrious career he has accompanied Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras and Chris Rea. Christian Garrick is one of the world’s most celebrated jazz violinists. He has played with the likes of Dame Cleo Laine & Sir John Dankworth, Wynton Marsalis, Nigel Kennedy, Bireli Lagrene and Caro Emerald. Another member of the Orchestra is one of Russia's most enigmatic musical exports. The Sultan is played expertly by Adrian Zolotuhin, a master of the strummed strings of domra, balalaika, guitar and saz. Veteran bass-man Kelly Cantlon has been in the business of laying down the low notes for many moons. Kelly found fame in the late 60’s as a Vagabond with northern soul sensations Jimmy James and the Vagabonds.
“The music is magic in their hands”
Sean Rafferty BBC Radio 3
“Back by popular demand, the fiery vivacity and awe-inspiring musicianship of the finest purveyors of Eastern European gypsy music this side of a Lada scrap heap will leave you with a grin on your face and rhythm in your feet…”
Times
"The Budapest Cafe Orchestra play a blistering barrage of Czardas, East European and Russian folk tunes that might have come from the Hot Club of Paris via the Orient Express!"
Brighton Argus
"What a treat we had from the Budapest Café Orchestra More than anything, it felt like a touch of magic had landed in the theatre. Not only was their musicianship and performance magical, but there was also magic in the sense of trickery, or what illusions they were going to engage us in by the very sounds they produced on their instruments. Add to this the very real rapport they immediately established with the audience, and you have music and entertainment of absolute quality. Follow all this with a repartee that kept everyone enthralled and amused and you have a good night out; and add to that a magical stage presentation and you have something even more."
Laurence Rugg, Orcadian
"The boys from the BCO eek out an interesting advantage over others in that they are musically connected to the culture rather than culturally connected to the music and this manifests itself in their performances which are among the most fulfilling live entertainment spectacles you are ever likely to find of any genre"
BBC Celtic Connections