ionita

Shaped in the Gypsy ghettos (Mahala) around Bucharest, Mahala Raï Banda (literally Noble Band from the Ghetto), combines a surprising array of trends and styles. Combining Romanian violins & accordions with a brass section consisting of army brass band veterans and a rocking rhythm section, they're the rising band from the Balkans. They effortlessly combine a knack for inventive arrangements with an indeniable ability to turn every single concert into a wild party. Tracks by Mahala Rai Banda (alongside pieces by label mates Taraf de Haidouks and Kocani Orkestar) were reworked/recreated by Nouvelle Vague, Balkan Beat Box, Dj ClicK, Forty Thieves Orkestar and Russ Jones for the Electric Gypsyland 2 project, and their "Mahalageasca" appears in Sasha Baron Cohen's "Borat" film.