Kal (band)
Encyclopedia
Kal is a world music
Romani band from Serbia
(originally from Valjevo
, now based in Belgrade
). They attracted Serbian and worldwide public interest with their eponymous debut album, released in 2006, presenting a blend of traditional Balkan Roma music with influences of Tango
, Middle Eastern, Turkish and even Jamaican influences.
Kal was formed in 1996, and they participated in several compilation album with other Roma, Serbian and world music performers. Their first national TV appearance was in a B92
show Timofejev in New Year's Eve 2006 http://www.b92.net/info/emisije/timofejev.php?nav_id=185443&yyyy=2005&mm=12, where they presented their unique style.
During 2006, Kal toured over a hundred concerts worldwide, including most of the European countries and United States
. They participated in festivals Sziget
(in 2001, 2002 and 2004), La notte di San Lorenzo in Milano, and 11th European biennale of young artists in Athens
, EXIT in Novi Sad in 2004 and 2005, and featured in 2006 World Music Expo, WOMEX
. In April 2006, the album reached the first position of World Music Charts Europe and ended up 3rd in the annual list.
The band, particularly the frontman Dragan Ristić, are also politically and socially engaged, fighting the prejudices and Anti-Roma sentiment
. Dragan and his brother Dušan founded the Amala Summer School in Serbia, a workshop of Romani language, history, culture heritage, and political power.
World music
World music is a term with widely varying definitions, often encompassing music which is primarily identified as another genre. This is evidenced by world music definitions such as "all of the music in the world" or "somebody else's local music"...
Romani band from Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
(originally from Valjevo
Valjevo
Valjevo is a city and municipality located in western Serbia. It is the center of the Kolubara District, which includes five other smaller municipalities with a total population of almost 180,000 people...
, now based in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
). They attracted Serbian and worldwide public interest with their eponymous debut album, released in 2006, presenting a blend of traditional Balkan Roma music with influences of Tango
Tango music
Tango is a style of ballroom dance music in 2/4 or 4/4 time that originated among European immigrant populations of Argentina and Uruguay . It is traditionally played by a sextet, known as the orquesta típica, which includes two violins, piano, double bass, and two bandoneons...
, Middle Eastern, Turkish and even Jamaican influences.
Kal was formed in 1996, and they participated in several compilation album with other Roma, Serbian and world music performers. Their first national TV appearance was in a B92
B92
B92 is a radio and television broadcaster with national coverage headquartered in Belgrade, Serbia. The network's key demographic is chiefly urban and young audience. Its programs, including the news cover topics with fairly liberal political painted attitudes...
show Timofejev in New Year's Eve 2006 http://www.b92.net/info/emisije/timofejev.php?nav_id=185443&yyyy=2005&mm=12, where they presented their unique style.
During 2006, Kal toured over a hundred concerts worldwide, including most of the European countries and United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. They participated in festivals Sziget
Sziget
The Sziget Festival in Budapest, Hungary is one of the largest music and cultural festivals in Europe. It is held every August on the Northern Budapest Óbudai-sziget , a leafy island of 108 hectares on the Danube. Sziget stands for Island...
(in 2001, 2002 and 2004), La notte di San Lorenzo in Milano, and 11th European biennale of young artists in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, EXIT in Novi Sad in 2004 and 2005, and featured in 2006 World Music Expo, WOMEX
WOMEX
WOMEX is an international world music support and development project based in Berlin, whose main event is an exposition held annually in different locations throughout Europe. It integrates a trade fair, showcases, conferences, film market, networking sessions, and awards...
. In April 2006, the album reached the first position of World Music Charts Europe and ended up 3rd in the annual list.
The band, particularly the frontman Dragan Ristić, are also politically and socially engaged, fighting the prejudices and Anti-Roma sentiment
Antiziganism
Antiziganism or Anti-Romanyism is hostility, prejudice or racism directed at the Romani people, also known as Gypsies.As an endogamous culture with a tendency to practise self-segregation, the Romanis have generally resisted assimilation with the indigenous communities of whichever countries they...
. Dragan and his brother Dušan founded the Amala Summer School in Serbia, a workshop of Romani language, history, culture heritage, and political power.
Lineup
- Dragan Ristić – vocals, guitar, shargia
- Dušan Ristić – vocals, violin
- Dragan Mitrović – accordion
- Vladan Mitrović – accordion, backing vocals
- Đorđe Belkić – violin
- Dragan Runić – double bass
- Neat Junuzi – percussions
Compilations
- Violeta & Kal: Budva '97 (1997, Komuna BelgradeKomuna BelgradeKomuna is a Serbian record label and media production house. Established in 1985, its headquarters are in Belgrade, Serbia with a branch office Budva, Montenegro...
) - Balkan Ambience (1998, Marko's music, Bulgaria)
- World Rhythms (1998, United One Records, Germany)
- A zenne unnepe (2000, France Cultural Institute)
- Romano Suno (2003, B92 Records)
- Serbia Sounds Global 3 (2003, B92 Records)
Albums
- Kal (2006) (B92B92B92 is a radio and television broadcaster with national coverage headquartered in Belgrade, Serbia. The network's key demographic is chiefly urban and young audience. Its programs, including the news cover topics with fairly liberal political painted attitudes...
/reissued internationally Asphalt Tango) - Radio Romanista (2009) (B92B92B92 is a radio and television broadcaster with national coverage headquartered in Belgrade, Serbia. The network's key demographic is chiefly urban and young audience. Its programs, including the news cover topics with fairly liberal political painted attitudes...
/ Asphalt Tango)