The Vortex Jazz Club, 11 Gillett Square, London N16 8JH | Bookings 020 7254 4097 | Enquiries 020 7993 3643 | Email Info at Vortex

Programme

 A complete guide to events at The Vortex

Coming soon...

 A look at coming events

How to find the club

 Street map and travel guide.

News

 What's happening at the club

Hire The Vortex

 Details and facilities

Ochre Works

Eat at the Vortex

CD reviews

 The latest CD reviews

Support The Vortex

Become a friend, sponsor a gig, volunteer

 See the support page for more details

Make a donation online through Charity Choice.

For more details see the donations page.

Gypsy/East European night at The Vortex

Alejandro and his Magic Tombolinos

31 January and 5 February 2008

by Gina Boreham

 

Alejandro and his Magic Tombolinos burst on to London's thriving Gypsy/Balkan music scene at the end of 2007 and arrived with something of a bang in Dalston this January.

They provided the live music before the Rio Cinema's late night screening of the film Gypsy Caravan and the band and the film managed to entice 250 people out at 11.30pm on a freezing January night. The sight of this huge cinema audience dancing (almost helplessly) into the auditorium was a joy to behold and it did seem that there was some magic at work.

Alejandro himself had studied and toured with one of the film's featured bands – Fanfare Ciocalia – so it was a perfect prelude.

Two weeks later the Vortex was heaving with delirious Balkan music fans dancing their socks off to Alejandro's mesmerising saxophone playing and the wonderful driving beats of his band. The audience's reaction to the music was instant and electric and probably best summed up by a rather dazed but happy punter who told me, "I don't really dance – but I couldn't help it."

That Alejandro and his band were able to sustain this intensity from the first note to the last without sacrificing any of their wonderful musicianship is incredible. Above a solid, emphatic rhythm section supplied by Agustin Collette on bass and Elizabeth Nott, Joe Granieri and Rastko on percussion we were treated to some virtuoso performances on accordion (Tom Baker) and guitar and bazouki (Dimitri).

Alejandro led the band with great verve and charm together with matchless performances on both Alto and Soprano saxophone - sometimes played simultaneously. In another's hands this could seem simply a gimmick but for me Balkan Tango - with it's final soaring alto sax solo was the highlight of the evening.

Five days later they sold out the club for a second time.

Email Gina Boreham on borehamster at gmail.com for more details of the Gypsy Jazz Night, or to join the mailing list.

 

 

Join the Vortex
email list

To receive monthly gig details, news and ticket offers.



RSS feeds

For news, gig and CD reviews and information about the club.

Click on the link below to get the subscribe address
Vortex news

For more informaton about RSS see the
RSS help pages