Sponsors

Voice of Roma's 20th annual Herdeljezi Romani Music Festival is supported in partnership with the Center for Traditional Music and Dance in New York City, and by a grant from the Trust for Mutual Understanding.

Bios and Background

DŽAMBO AGUŠEVI ORCHESTRA

Trumpet virtuoso Džambo Agušev, born in Strumica, Macedonia,in 1987, represents the apex of the younger generation of Romani brass performers. Džambo was trained by his father Džemal(who performs in his band)and his uncle Kočo (1965-2009),a legend who led the famous band Aguševi.At the age of 11 Džambo became a member of Aguševi as third trumpet. He soon ascended to the top of his profession and formed his own band,with his brother, father, and several other relatives.

Džambo Aguševi Orchestra has won prizes in all the major brass festivals: Kumanovo, Pehčevo, and the international brass festival in Guča. The bandhas an active touring schedule and recently performed in the Sziget Festival (2018, Hungary) as well as in Turkey, UK and Mexico. In March 2018 theyperformed in the US for the first time, to sold-out crowds in California. They have two recent CDs: Brass Hurricane Tour (2014), and Brass Like it Hot (2016, ARC).
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The band members: Džambo Agušev - trumpet, vocals; Džemal Agušev - trumpet, vocals; Kočo Agušev - trumpet; Sunaj Mustafov - trumpet; Džafer Fazliov - tenor horn; Ali Zekirov - tenor horn; Šukri Dževatov - tuba; Orfej Čakalovski – tapan, vocals; Redjep Nedjatov – drum set.

STEVENS FAMILY - "GYPSY BOYS"

This third generation Kalderash family band composed of George on guitar and Paul on accordion, plays music in traditional Romani style throughout California, the Northwest, Nevada, New York and Florida. The group formed in the 80’s, when several grandchildren began performing with grandfather Vine, a renowned mandolinist and important leader of the Los Angeles Romany community. Their music has been passed down from generation to generation orally. They perform frequently at Romani gatherings, including weddings, baptisms, night clubs and festivals, and have also performed at Skirball Museum. The Stevens Family plays the typical Romani genre “basso,” and blends styles from Django Reinhardt’s Manush Jazz with Serbian, Greek, Hungarian and Russian music.

VOICE OF ROMA

Voice of Roma is a California based non-profit that promotes the rich cultural heritage of Roma dating back over 600 years, through festivals, workshops, performances and educational presentations. Voice of Roma also works to heighten awareness of human rights issues faced by Roma in today’s world, and to support efforts by Roma to build and maintain their communities, and to improve their lives. In its 21-year history, Voice of Roma has supported many educational programs about Roma as well as several national tours of esteemed artists, such as the final American tour of superstar vocalist Esma Redzepova who passed away in 2016.

Voice of Roma's president, Šani Rifati, is a Rom from Kosovo who immigrated to the United States in 1993, co-founding Voice of Roma three years later. Rifati has taught at many international dance camps and festivals. Festival panelist and Voice of Roma Board Member Carol Silverman is an activist and scholar of Romani music in Eastern Europe. Her book Romani Routes: Cultural Politics and Balkan Music in Diaspora (2012) won the book prize from the Society for Ethnomusicology.

Voice of Roma events seek to renew interest on and attention to the continued struggles of Romani people around the world, striving to counter negative Gypsy stereotypes and supporting efforts by Roma to rebuild and maintain their communities, improve their lives and strengthen their international voice and visibility. “Few Americans know that one million Roma reside in America today, that Roma are the largest minority in Europe today and that Roma have a rich and varied culture in spite of centuries of discrimination,” says Silverman. “Furthermore, festivals of ‘Gypsy Music’ are often stereotypical fantasies geared toward exoticism. Voice of Roma’s Festival, on the other hand, places the music in its cultural and historical context.”