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 BAND

In the competitive world of Romani Balkan brass bands, a new star of the trumpet - Džambo Aguševi - has been sweeping up awards. Hailing from Strumica in eastern Macedonia, Džambo seems to have been born with a trumpet in his hand, and to have grown up doing nothing but practicing on it. At only 11 years old, he earned himself a place in his uncle Kočo's well-known band, Aguševi. Džambo, now 30, quickly ascended to the top of his profession and formed his own stellar band, with his father and other relatives.

Džambo’s innovative arrangements have turned his brass band into a cutting-edge juggernaut of the genre, driven by rocking grooves. His music is not for sitting. Džambo has won prizes in all the major Balkan brass festivals, including Kumanovo, Pehčevo, and the international festival in Guča. The Džambo Aguševi Orchestar has an active touring schedule and recently performed in the UK and Mexico. The eight member ensemble makes its California debut at the Voice of Roma Festival March 9th. They have two recent CDs: Brass Hurricane Tour (2014), and Brass Like it Hot (2016, ARC).

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.”