Introducing Bohemian Nights
Violinist Ernie Gruner and accordionist/singer Phil Carroll play Gypsy, Klezmer, Middle-Eastern, French, Italian, Russian, jazz and tango music, which range from soulful to wild. They have both studied overseas, and play and record together in larger bands (Klezmeritis, Yalla!, Flirting Mazurkas).
Ernie specializes in Jewish music and Phil specializes in Middle-Eastern music. They have worked together with theatre and dance events for Russian, Armenian, Jewish, Turkish, French and Italian and other productions and communities, as well as parties and weddings.
The duo BOHEMIAN NIGHTS are as experienced at concerts , at the European art form of serenading at tables and taking requests, as well as creating atmosphere in a street festival.
The duo was originally named Gypsy Nights after a famous duo that entertained in the restaurants and cafes of Budapest in the 1930s.
BOHEMIAN NIGHTS CD Review written by Lindsay Coker:
"Two of Melbourne’s, and Australia’s leading exponents of klezmer, folk, jazz, and Eastern European Jewish music are Ernie Gruner & Phil Carroll. Ernie is well known to all lovers of this music, while Phil has become special to all who appreciate the sounds of Arabic and Turkish music and culture.
Now, they have teamed up for their first CD, Bohemian Nights. To say they can get the feet of the dead tapping is putting it mildly, and to say they bring a slice of music and life from beyond these shores is nothing less than fact – even though they were born here. Their cultural heritage glows, and we are all the richer for it. Ernie is a violinist of extraordinary talent; Phil plays the accordion and sings with stylishness and heart.
...Ernie Gruner on Violin, mandolin and some vocals, Phil Carroll, playing accordion, ney, duduk, and singing, with some of the tracks on their new CD, Bohemian Nights.
They have grouped most of the tracks into ‘bohemian’ areas: France, Italy, Hungary, etc., and thrown in a bit of jazz for good measure. We heard the French, Greek, and Italian medleys, as well as Swing 42 .
JAZZ & LATINAll of Me Amor As Time Goes By Autumn leaves Bb Blues Besame Mucho Bi mir Black Orpheus Blue Moon Brazil Bye bye blackbird C'est si bon Cheek to cheek Corcovado Don’t get around Dream a little dream Embraceable you Fever Fly me to the moon Georgia Girl from ipanema Guantanamera Hey mambo Hit the Road Jack Honeysuckle Rose I Can't get Started I can't give you anything but love I cried for you I’m beginning to see the light I’m in the mood for love I’ve got you under my skin Is you is It don't mean a thing if it aint got that swing It had to be you J’attendrai La mer La vie en rose Lady be good Lili Marlene Love is here to stay Love me or leave me Lover man Mack the Knife Makin whoopee Man I love Mas que nada Milord Misty Mood Indigo Moon river Moondance My baby just cares for me My funny valentine Never on Sunday Night and day No Regrets One note samba Paper Moon IRISHMany jigs and reels! (song list on request) OTHERCajun tunes Greek circle dances Jambalaya Lili marlene Never on Sunday Polish mazurka Wedding circles |
FRENCHA man and a woman Allons Lafayette Alouette Autumn leaves Can can C'est Si Bon Charade Circus waltz Claire do lune I love paris I wish you love If I stay forever J’attendrai Jalousie Je ne regrette Rien L’accordioniste La foulle La goulante de pauvre jean La marsellaise La mer La seine La Vie en Rose Les negresses vertes waltz Libertango Louise Michelle Milord Moulin rouge Padam Paris tango Petite fleur Pigalle Plaisir d’amour Sous le cel de paris Thank heavens for little girls Third man theme Tit Galop Under the bridges of Paris What are you doing the rest of your life? Windmills of your mind LATINAmor Begin the beguine Besame mucho Black Orpheus Brazil Corcovado Cumbenchero El Bayon Frenesi Gauntanamera Girl from ipanema Guantanamera Gypsy kings Hey Mambo La Bamba Mas que nada Night and day One note samba Perfidia Quiereme mucho Quizas/Perhaps So Dance Samba Sway Wave Perfidia Quiereme mucho Quizas Route 66 September song Smooth operator Stormy weather Straighten up and fly right Summertime Lover come back to me Sway Swing 42 That old black magic That’s amore The man I love The way you look tonight Undecided Unforgettable VOLARE Wave way you look tonight what is this thing called love you go to my head |
ITALIANAnvil Chorus Arriverderci Roma Ave Maria Bella Ciao: Calabrisell Cappricioni Italiano Carnival Of Venice Che Sera Chicken Dance Ciao Ciao Bambino Come Back To Sorrento Come Prima Cuiccio: Finiculi Finicula Forget About Domani Godfather Theme Granada Love Story Magdalena Mambo Italiano Marina Mattinata Mazurka Nessun Dorma Non Dimenticar O Solo Mio Quando quando Ragazzioni(Veni Veni) Romeo and Juliette Said The Mama To The Papa Santa Lucia Tangos assorted Tarantella Tarantella Calabrese That's Amore Three Coins in The Fountain Tiribomba Volare Youre My World TANGO Chiquilin de bachin l motivo Farol porteno Hernando’s Hideaway Jealousy Kiss OF FIRE La Cumparsita Libertango Rica tipa GYPSY / RUSSIANBi mir Czardas Dark Eyes Hungarian Dance No.5 Kalinka Laras theme Moscow Nights Rasputin Russian medley Those were the days |
"You guys were, as always, great entertainment. You are so much more than a couple of musicians - you have such exuberance and the music you play is evocative of all sorts of memories, travels, times past etc. We all loved your playing - thankyou. "
- 60th birthday client who saw us again at Budapest Restaurant
a fantastic concert in Welly last night. French, Turkish, Gypsy, Klezmer ...... Loads of enthusiasm, brilliant musicality.Go see. slan Sue Ikin (director Wellington Folk Festival)
Your performance added immeasurably to the event - it put everyone in a fantastic party mood. Mary Lou Jelbart - fortyfivedownstairs
It was a fantastic concert, what a way to start the series, people are still raving about it all over town.
Anna Shaw WANAKA New Zealand Tour
It was a pleasure to see you again and enjoy your fabulous concert; we had a lot of positive feedback
Mathilda Schorer PUKEHOE New Zealand
Thank you so so much for the wonderful music the other night. It was perfect for the night and I am glad that I put off my party that extra month so that you guys would be back to play.
A lot of people commented on how fantastic the music and the dancing was, it lifted everything in a swirl of fabulous atmosphere.
Bagryana Popov
"dazzled, and entertained- these guys knew how to do the biz, with Klezmer, jazz, gypsy, tango, and a bit of classical thrown into the mix." -Wellington NZ folk festival.
"The sensitive an affecting musical accompaniment by Ernie Gruner and Phillip Carroll was exemplary... one of the best productions I saw."
Russian Soup : Theatre based on Chekov, Gogol, Dostoevsky short stories with traditional and original music by Gypsy Nights, actors : Josef Sherman, Greg Ulfan, director: John Bolton; review by Malcolm Robertson
"Gypsy Nights got the audience clapping along with their accordion and fiddle before the evening began"
The Age review of Theatre Cameleon
"Gypsy Nights treated the audience to a dazzling display of Eastern European and Middle-Eastern music...Ernie's virtuoso violin thrilled the audience, and its expressive lyricism - together with Phil's lively and complex accordion - brought to life the cafe scene of Budapest and Paris in the 1930's"
"Played with sensitivity and humor, the music generated an energy that could only be expressed through dancing"
Wyreena Arts Centre
"Awesome performance" Greymouth NZ
"Bloody great night" Wellington Folk Club NZ
"Great to see people so passionately involved in keeping alive such colorful musical traditions....their music speaks to everyone" Penguin Club NZ
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