Extremely Hungary closed on Saturday with a performance of Fire + Fire, a collaboration between Black American artists and Hungarian Gypsy musicians at Manhattan's Peter Norton Symphony Space. Among the audience was Minister of Education and Culture István Hiller.
Eight Hungarian musicians and one ensemble performed with seven African Americans at the concert. They included Mihály Farkas on cimbalom, Richárd Farkas on bass and Róbert Farkas on violin and accordion - all members of Budapet Bár - as well as the singer Ági Szalóki, a collaborator with Budapest Bár, and the pianist Béla Szakcsi Lakatos. They were joined by the bassist Melvin Gibbs, Valerie June on guitar, banjo and vocals, and the drummer David Pleasant.
The concert's organisers called it a "historic meeting of musical sympathies when nine Hungarian Gypsy musicians meet with seven of their Black American counterparts to interrogate a history of mutual oppression and silences."
"Fire + Fire...delves into the synergies of two cultures, melding musical and political expression-this taking the shape through the story of star crossed lovers caught in a weft of cultural clash and political dialogue."
Budpaest Bár's album Budapest Bár Volume 1, released by EMI in 2007, recently went gold.
Source: est.hu
