|
|
Toni IordacheSounds from a Bygone Age, Vol.4 (Asphalt Tango) At the age of four, Toni Iordache started learning the smaller portable version of the tzambal (cimbalom). Iordache was so gifted a musician he soon was sent on tours of European countries, the USA and Asia as a representative of Socialist Romania. Although Iordache was famous for his complex solos, he was also a gifted ensemble player, who enriched many melodies with oriental elements and sophisticate rhythms. For him the technique of playing the tzambal was not solely one of speed; his sensitive touch, immense skill and imaginative verve marked him as a master amongst Lautari. This album contains several Iordache instrumentals alongside recordings with the Lautari singers Gabi Lunca and Romica Puceanu.
|
|
From the liner notes: At the age of four, Toni Iordache started learning the smaller portable version of the tzambal (cimbalom). Iordache's friend, the trumpeter Costel Vasilescu, remembers their first meeting well: “I met Toni in 1954 in a village on the outskirts of Bucharest. Toni was playing there and everyone was just standing around him and getting scared, because his playing was insanely good.” Iordache was so gifted a musician he soon was sent on tours of European countries, the USA and Asia as a representative of Socialist Romania. Returning home, he often drove straight from Bucharest Airport to a wedding where his band members were waiting for him. At the beginning of the 1970s, Iordache was arrested for the illegal possession of foreign currency. Apparently he wanted to buy his wife a fur coat with the money he had earned abroad. Even the prestigious orchestra leader Florian Economu couldn't help his soloist at the trial when he spoke up for him by saying, “We have three giants in Romania, Nicolae Ceausescu (head of state), Ilie Nastase (Romanian tennis champion) and the tzambal player Toni Iordache! Do you really want to convict him for a few dollars?” Although Iordache was famous for his complex solos, he was also a gifted ensemble player, who enriched many melodies with oriental elements and sophisticate rhythms. For him the technique of playing the tzambal was not solely one of speed; his sensitive touch, immense skill and imaginative verve marked him as a master amongst Lautari. Dan Armeanca, the godfather of Romanian Gypsy pop, states: “Toni was a genius on the tzambal, ones like that are not born twice. He respected tradition, but even back then he allowed jazz influences to sound through. He gave us young musicians courage due to his musical audacity.” This album contains several Iordache instrumentals alongside recordings with the Lautari singers Gabi Lunca and Romica Puceanu.
|
Other recordings you might like:
|
|
Please note!
Most CDs have been
imported from Europe or Asia.
They are not all
shrink-wrapped, and I am not
going to con you by wrapping them
here just to make you think they
have been sterilized in America.
We guarantee that the CDs and the
contents are all brand new and in
perfect condition. Whenever I
can, I use recycled shipping
materials. They may not look as
pretty on the outside, but they save
money and keep the trash dumps a
little bit emptier.
|
