Gypsy Swing with a twist
ROMACALEO
Close your eyes and you might think you are in a 1930's Parisian bar... a barmitzva... or a ceilidh? Musical acrobatics, at once relaxing, toe tapping and infectious.
VIDEOS
HABANERA
Romacaleo performs Habanera with Shuna Scott Sendall
Our newest video. Probably the first and only time Roma musicians have collaborated with classical opera, this is a unique performance the Habanera from the opera Carmen by Georges Bizet; playing it with the inimmitable Roma authenticity that Bizet had surely dreamed of.
MAHZEL
by Benny Goodman
This is a Benny Goodman Yiddish classic meaning Good Luck! We performed this with guest musicians, and winners of Scottish Young Jazz Musicians of the Year award, Joe Williamson (Guitar) and David Bowden (Bass)
SIR DUKE FEATURING JESSICA DAVEY
by Stevie Wodner
This is a Stevie Wonder classic which we have gypsy jazzified with the guidance of our Roma lead guitarist Ricardo Wysniewski. It features the wonderful Jessica Davey from Illinois, USA. Vocals: Jessica Davey Clarinet : Martin Violin: Roo Geddes Guitar: Ricardo Wysniewski Guest Guitar: Joe Williamson Guest Bassist: David Bowden
MENILMONTANT WITH ALISON AFLECK
@Tchai-Ovna Glasgow
with Allison Affleck
ROMACALEO LIVE @ JAZZ DOCK, PRAGUE
Lucy Farr's Barn Dance and Anne Lacey's Reel live
Check out our new video of us playing live in Czech Republic's top music venue, Jazz dock. We are really excited about this new innovation in gypsy jazz and Scottish trad, and hope you love it too. Featuring: Dariusz Szoma, Krystian Grynicz , Roo Geddes, Martin Fell, and Conor Murray.
ROMACALEO AND FRIENDS
Show Reel
Romacaleo featuring members and our wonderful new guest singers Georgia Cecile and Jessica Davey singing some great original arrangements of some well known tunes.
ROMACALEO LIVE @ JAZZ DOCK, PRAGUE
Softly as the morning sunrise
Recorded live at the Jazz Dock in Prague, this well known jazz standard showcases the outstanding virtuosic playing of guitarist Dariusz Szoma
NUAGES
Performed at the Edinburgh Jazz Bar
Recorded with the current line up of Romacaleo in March 2019
FOR SEPHORA
Performed at the Edinburgh Jazz Bar
Our current lineup, playing March 2019
ABOUT
Deep roots in swing
Romacaleo approaches the soulful Gypsy Jazz of Reinhardt with a fresh, innovative yet historically rooted twist. Until the 2nd World War the Gypsies and Jews of Europe would frequently collaborate musically, their styles indelibly rubbing off on each other. Romacaleo has reignited this relationship through the incorporation of infectiously capricious Klezmer and the swing of Benny Goodman. In addition Romacaleo has recently smoothly incorporated Scottish folk into our repertoire, an innovation that makes the band a truly unique as an outfit - a testament to Glasgow's open multi-culturalism. Having now won the hearts of audiences across Scotland and Europe, we are keen to bring our music to a stage near you.
BAND MEMBERS
ROO GEDDES
Violin
All the way from Billy Conolly's Partick in Glasgow Roo has recently graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and is one of the rising stars in almost all the scenes - classical, trad and jazz. He plays with the soul of an old wisened old man with the youthful athaleticism of a teenager...
MARTIN FELL
Clarinet and Saxophone
Active in the Scottish jazz scene for the past few years Martin has been delving into the music of his East European Jewish forefathers. He also loves fine leaf tea and single malt.
RICARDO WYSNIEWSKI
Lead Guitarist
A proud Polish Roma musician, Ricardo is the grandson of celebrated Hungarian gypsy violinst Kirylo Sywak. Ricardo honed his virtuosic style in the caravans of Europe, hanging out with the greats. He also is a doting father of 5!
ARTUR WYSNIEWSKI
Accordion and Guitar
The astoundingly acrobatic playing of Polish Roma musician, Artek, draws you irresistibly in to another time, another place, almost another world. He has a smile that could melt anyone's heart...
LAURIE MOORE
Double Bass
All the way from Glasgow's Clydebank, Laurie is a jazz bass maverick, with more skills under his fingers than years to his age. Busy with all sorts of projects, he's never happier than when he has his bass in his hand and his pint by his side!
