Bratsch

The gypsy music of Central Europe is combined with bebop, post-bop, and free jazz influences by France-based acoustic band Bratsch. While their name is derived from a type of viola used to accompany Tsigane vocalists, the trio -- which formed in 1975 -- re-creates the traditional sounds of cymbaloms and percussion on guitar, accordion, and clarinet. Although they initially mixed a global range of musical styles including Arabic and South African music, Bratsch shifted their focus to gypsy jazz. ~ Craig Harris