In the history of the Hungarian world music movement, Roma folk music has particular importance and the first group to re-interpret this heritage was Kalyi Jag. They formed in 1978 from young labourers who were travelling between Nagyecsed and Budapest, and their music preserved the authentic traditions of Hungarian Gypsy music, for example the use of practical objects (milk churns, spoons) and the creation of bass sound with the mouth, rather than conventional instruments. For urban dwellers encountering this music for the first time, the impression was of remarkable freshness. Their arrangements involving guitar, influence by the dance house movement and beat music, led to not only youth clubs opening their doors to the group but also concert halls in the West and in 1987 they signed a three record deal with Hungaroton. These albums – particularly Kalyi Jag and Lungoj O Drom Angla Mande – exerted an unavoidable influence on the wave of Gypsy folk music that rolled over Hungary in the late eighties and early nineties. The band was awarded everything from the Europe Prize to Hungarian and international acknowledgements including the “Prize for Minorities” and they toured the globe extensively. For many years, they have run a Roma arts society and college while the leader of the band, Gusztáv Varga even wrote a rock opera called Roma Legend. At his concert, marking their thirtieth anniversary, we can hear numbers from the latest Kalyi Jag production Blazing Fire as well as pieces from Varga’s rock opera and their other evergreen songs. They will be joined by Hungarian and foreign guests.

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