Csókolom

by Richie UnterbergerCsókolom play Eastern European folk music with a gypsy flavor, emphasizing arrangements using two or three violins and a double bass. The leader and singer for the group is fiddler Anti von Klewitz, who in addition to playing traditional Hungarian music has studied jazz (under bassist Reggie Workman) and classical, and has also played in a salsa band and written music for dance and theatrical productions. Csókoloms sound has a more modern and varied feel that many similar such ensembles, due to the jazzy bass and Klewitzs earthy, scratchy vocals. Their 1998 debut album, May I Kiss Your Hand, was recorded at Sun Studios in Memphis. They followed that up in 2001 with the live album Ludo Luda: Fools Fancy, also for Arhoolie Records. Dog Daze was released in 2006.