ROEMENIË FESTIVAL
i.c.w. RASA
TARAF COSTEL VASILESCU
Costel Vasilescu-trumpet, Nelutu Neagu-vocals, accordion, Georgie Petrachie-vocals, guitar, Vasile Nasturica-violin, Leonard Paun-cymbalom, Marian Stefan-clarinet, Grigore Ciuciuc-double bass
CORNELIA CATANGA & MIHAI TURCITU SEXTET
Cornelia Catanga-vocals, accordion, Mihai Turcitu-violin, Mircea Constantin-viola, Sandu Constantin-keyboard, Costel Ursulet-cymbalom, Aurel Budistean-accordion, Gabi Barbalau-double bass
With the title ‘Sounds from a Bygone Age’ the German Asphalt Tango Records released an important series of recordings from the old Rumanian folk music. It is music from an era in which every cafe in Bukarest was exploding with live music. Rhythmical dances like the hora, briu, sîrba and geamparale were performed with a sense of freedom that reminded of urban jazz music. It is also the era of Gabi Lunca and Romica Puceanu, the two kings of the gipsy song and of the masterful musicians that accompanied them, among which trumpet player Costel Vasilescu. In 2007, Vasilescu’s muted trumpet sound is still unmistakable. His orchestra contains various generations of musicians. ‘I know that the times of the ancient Lautari tradition are over but I will keep on playing this music as long as I am able to hold my trumpet.’ Cornelia Catanga is believed to be the successor of Romica who died in a car accident in 1996, after a couple of notes of Catanga the spirit of the late Puceanu is present. Cornelia Catanga is accompanied by the Mihai Turcitu Sextet.