BOHEMIAN NIGHTS

                previously called  Gypsy Nights

     Bio  History Repertoire  Dress & Style   Quotes    Debut CD

          Forthcoming 2008 Dates include :

          March 14 /16 :     Yackandandah Folk Festival

         April  5  :               The Boite, North Fitzroy

         April 18 :               Wyreena Arts Cafe, Croydon

         May  2 :                   Kulcha, Fremantle (W.A.)

         May 3/4 :                Harboursound Festival , Albany (W.A.)

Recent dates include :

                   Jan 11 - 13    :  Cygnet Folk Festival, Tasmania

Friday October 26th    Wyreena Arts Centre 5th year

                                Saturday July 21st      Kingston Arts Centre  !! SOLD OUT !!

,  Bio-notes

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).

Australian concerts highlights include the National Folk Festival and National Multicultural Festival. Phil and Ernie’s five NZ tours have included the Wellington & Dunedin Folk Festivals

and the Christchurch Jazz Festival.

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.

BOHEMIAN NIGHTS are as experienced at concerts as at the European artform 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.

Performance History

   2007    5th NZ tour including Christchurch Arts Festival

   2005/6 4th NZ tour : Whare Flat festival & 2 concerts

   2005   CD launches at The Boite & fortyfivedownstairs

   2005    Russian Soup - 2 week season for Fringe Festival     

   2005    3rd New Zealand tour (3+ weeks, 15 concerts)

2004-5  45 Downstairs concerts

2001-4  Wyreena Arts Centre cafe concerts

2004     Port Fairy Literary Festival. National Folk Festival

2004      National Multicultural Festival
2002 New Zealand tour (3 week, 12 concerts) including Christchurch Jazz Festival & Wellington Folk Festival
2001 Weekly performances at Prahran Vodka Bar – “Borsch, Vodka and Tears”
Selected performances include a one year weekly residency at The Block Arcade, The Regent, RACV Club, Titanic Theatre Restaurant, Melbourne Food and Wine Festivals, Australian Short Story Awards, Boorondara Federation Dinner, Bundoora Art Gallery opening. Theatre Collaborations : Theatro Chameleon (Blue Absence), Mt Waverley Theatre (Emma Celebrazione)
Many corporate functions, weddings, parties, shopping centres, as well as concerts and festivals.

Repertoire

Large selection from Dark Eyes to La Vie En Rose and from Ain’t Misbehavin’ to Habanera.
Styles include Gypsy, Jazz, Classical, Continental, Latin, Russian, French, Italian, Jewish, Arabic.
Most of the material can be performed roving without sheet music but for fixed performances Gypsy Nights has a large library of sheet music and can often organise special music for weddings, anniversaries or themed events.

Dress and Style

Depending on the event Gypsy Nights dresses and acts for the occasion. Although sometimes seen in black and white formal attire in background mode in restaurants or private functions, they often wear colorful costumes & are more lively and can interact with audiences for parties, festivals or shopping centres and promotions.

Other Options

Bohemian Nights can also play for functions with Phil playing keyboards or piano.

PA is available and depending on the event and if dancing is preferred a double bass and drums, guitar, vocalist etc may be added.

SOLO:Both Phil and Ernie are in demand as solo roving musicians, Phil also as a cocktail pianist and both work with several jazz, gypsy, folk or classical ensembles.

Phil and Ernie play together in 3 larger bands:

Klezmeritis led by Ernie specialises in infectious East European Jewish music (CD available)

   Yalla! led by Phil specialises in Arabic & Turkish music and dance.

   (CD vailable)

Flirting Mazurkas with singer/guitarist Jennifer Hawley plays jazz & European café music.

Ernie also plays in comedy cabaret Jugularity

BOHEMIAN NIGHTS CD : Recorded June  2005

 Please email for ordering information.  or call 03.9386.7108

Cheque or credit card accepted.    CD Reviews below.

CD Melbourne Shop sales : (ring 1st to see if in stock)

Blue Moon - 54 Johnston St, Fitzroy, 9415 1157

Atelier Puglisi - 40 Church St, Hawthorn,  98539525 (my luthier)

Readings Carlton - 309 Lygon St, Carlton,  9347 6633

Readings Hawthorn - 701 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn, 9819 1917

Ottoman Classics - 155 Sydney Road Brunswick, 9381 2235

Sunflower Bookshop - 434 Glenhuntly Road, Elsternwick 9523 6405

Discurio, 113 Hardware St, City 96001488

Featured CD : Radio National Life Matters

Appears on Radio PBS World Music Compilation

Web sales : INDIE-CDs.com

Phil Carroll : accordion, vocals, ney, duduk

Ernie Gruner : violin, mandolin, minor vocals

  Total Playing Time : around 70 minutes

  Recorded mostly live.   All tunes arranged Bohemian Nights.

CD  TRACKS

1. Yismechu (Trad) - Klezmer  2’40”

2. Dark Eyes - (Trad/lyrics  E. Grebenka) - Russian Gypsy  4’50”

3. Sous la Ciel de Paris (J. Drejac) - French Waltz  1’43”

4. La Foule (C. Dumont) - French Waltz 1’19”

5. Padam Padam (N. Glanzberg / lyrics H. Contet )  - French Waltz 1’32”

Total medley time: 4’34”

6. Swing 42  (D. Reinhardt) - Gypsy Swing  2’57”

7. Miserlou featuring Ney (Trad/Lyrics N. Roubanis) – Greek  4’11”

8. Mustafa (Trad)  - Middle-Eastern  2’05”

Total medley time: 6’16”

9. Moldavian Hora - Klezmer  1’36”

10. Freylach #5   - Klezmer  2’06”

Total medley time: 3’42”

11. Tu Vuo Fa L’Americano (R. Carosone) - Italian Jazz  3’19”

12. Ernesto’s Serenade (E. Gruner)

13. Bubak & Hungaricus (Trad) - Hungarian Gypsy

Total medley time: 2’36”

14. El Motivo (J. C. Cobain / lyrics – P. Contursi) - Argentinian Tango  3’35”

15. Abi Gezunt (A. Elstein/Lyrics M.Picon/English lyrics unknown) - Yiddish Jazz  2’29”

16. Hassaperserviko in A (Trad) - Greek  2’29”

17. Neapolitan Tarantella (Trad) - Italian  56”

18. Comme Facetta Mametta (S. Gamardella ) - Italian  44”

19. Funicula Funiculi (P. Turco & L. Denza) - Italian  1’02”

Total medley time: 2’42”

20. Yuksek Yuksek  featuring Duduk (Trad) - Turkish  4’11”

21. Jealousy (J. Gade) - Tango  2’46”

22. Give Me Lies ( P. Carroll, secret lyrics D. Wayman ) - Milonga  1’56”

Total medley time: 4’42”

23. Istanbul  (N. Simon / Lyrics J. Kennedy) - Jazz  3’18”

24. Gloomy Sunday (R. Seress) - Hungarian  1’40”

25. Bessarabian Hora (Trad) - Klezmer  2’05”

26. Bessarabian Sirba  (Trad)  - Klezmer  1’31”

Total medley time: 5’16”

27. Maria’s Kalamatianos (Trad) - Greek  1’25”

28. Turkish Potbori  (Trad) - Turkish  1’52”

Total medley time: 3’17”

29. Katyusha ( M.Blanter / Lyrics M. Issakowski) - Russian  3’58”

30. Moscow Nights (V. Solovjov-Sedoj, lyrics M. Matusovskij) - Russian  42”

Total medley time: 4’40”

31. Music Deli Freylach - Klezmer  2’27

Quotes

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) July 2007

Your performance added immeasurably to the event - it put everyone in a fantastic party mood. Mary Lou Jelbart - fortyfivedownstairs 2005

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  July 2005

 

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 Tour July 2005

 

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 July 2005

"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 2003

"The sensitive an affecting musical accompaniment by Ernie Gruner and Phillip Carroll was exemplary... one of the best productions I saw in 2002."

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 2001

"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 2002

"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

CD REVIEWs

BOHEMIAN NIGHTS CD Review on Tony Thomas' show "Collectibles"
Radio 3MBS - written by Lindsay Coker
Transcript from November 15th 2005 show.

"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.
Enough talk, let’s hear them. Here’s a selection from their new album, Bohemian Nights.
Play item 3

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.
This lighthearted, culturally exciting disc is available from Readings, price around $25. BN 001."

Review by Jan Forbes for indie-cds.com 2005

This is lively passionate gypsy music to dance away your troubles by; played on abrasive fiddle and wheezy piano accordion. Bohemian Nights is reminiscent of Hungarian goulash, red wine, French bread, Gitanes cigarettes and sensuous painted ladies from the thirties. It is recorded mostly live; thirty-one full-blooded numbers of familiar old Bohemian songs and animated dance tunes, sung and played by two masters of the trade, Ernie Gruner and Phil Carroll, who as a duo call themselves Bohemian Nights. It goes on for seventy minutes. What a find for a theme party!

Imagine the smoke haze of a workers' café in Paris between the wars; cares forgotten as men with slicked back hair whirl shady ladies around a dimly lit dance floor to tangos and waltzes. The frenzy of swivelling hips and slinky shoulders, the highs and lows of passion; the wild and exotic; a little yearning, a little joy, a little laughter; the theatrical and sensual; the dark and melancholy; the nostalgia of familiar old tunes that include well-known standards such as Dark Eyes, Padam Padam, Funiculi Funicula, Jealousy, Istanbul and Moscow Nights; tunes that might once have been recorded on seventy-eights or for old black and white movies. While most other titles are foreign to me the names don't matter because all the tunes sound familiar and are in the same gypsy style. Still, they represent a wide ranging repertoire from many different cultures: French, Italian, Russian, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek, Argentinian and Jewish, as befits the eclectic gypsies, or Bohemians. Highlights include: several atmospheric medleys representing different cultural styles; in particular the Russian medley that starts with Katyusha and as the momentum picks up blends into Moscow nights; and Yuksek, Yuksek, a haunting instrumental featuring the Duduk, a traditional Armenian flute played by Phil Carroll.

Review in ARTSTREAMS Magazine October/November 2005

Melbourne has a reputation for being a multicultural city. Artistically it would be considerably less multi-cultural without the presence of Phil Carroll and Ernie Gruner. When not playing as Bohemian Nights, they feature in Klezmeritis, Yalla and Flirting Mazurkas.    On this outing they divide almost 70 minutes into 30 tracks that cover klezmer, Russian and Hungarian Gypsy, French, Greek, Middle Eastern, Italian and Turkish delights. They even head off to The Argentine for a spot of tango.

Still not content, they do a credible version of Django Reinhardt's Swing 42 with Carroll standing in for Rheinhardt's guitar on accordion. With such a mix, sophisticated shifts from track to tradck are hard to organise. Hence Carroll quickly swaps his accordion for a ney and they move into Miserlou, a hauntingly beautiful Greek melody before darting back to the Middle East for a spirited rendition of Mustapha.

The two klezmer pieces that follow are very much home turf for Gruner whose violin playing skills really shine. Not that he's struggling on the other material. The pair then flits over the Mediterranean for Tu Vuo fa l'Americano and a bit of Italian jazz.

At this point I threw away the map and just listened to the music. After a not so convincing trip to Italy, they offer Yuksek Yuksek from Turkey. As in Miserlou they are able to weave some magic into music that is arguably their real forte.

Bohemian Nights offers a lot of music. Seventy minutes is a long time to sit and listen to multi cultural music. On the other hand if you have company and choose to get up and dance this set wil keep you going all night.

 5th NEW ZEALAND TOUR July 27 - Aug 12   2007

see our NZ agent Flying Piglets for details

          Friday 27 July  8pm, Palmerston North Folk Club,

Church St Palmerston North. Door sales

Saturday 28 July 8pm Taranaki  Lepperton Bowling Club,

Manutahi St Lepperton, Info  06 752 0167

Sunday 29 July 8pm  Auckland. Devonport folk club,

The Bunker, Mt Victoria, Tickets 09 445 2227

Tuesday 31 July 8pm Wanganui   The Function Room, Stellar, 2 Victoria Ave, Door sales. info@flyingpiglets.co.nz

Wednesday 1 August RADIO: on "Upbeat", Radio NZ Concert, 1.10pm. Hear Bohemian Nights interviewed

Wednesday 1 August: Wellington 7.30pm, 10 Fifeshire Ave (Irish Society Rooms) off Cambridge Tce, + Klezmer Rebs www.klezmer.co.nz/News.htm  Info David Weinstein 04 233 0003; 021 077 6069. Door sales.  

Thursday 2 August Interislander Ferry concert,  12.30pm, Wellington to Picton.

Friday 3 August, Greymouth 8pm Regent Theatre,

Mackay/Herbert Sts,. Door sales. Info 03 768 0920

Sunday 5 August , Dunedin. 7.30pm New Edinburgh Folk Club, Victoria Hotel, St Andrews StInfo 021 066 4070

Monday 6 August 7pm, Warrington. Warrington Memorial Hall, Door sales. Info Peter 021 137 2129

Tuesday 7 August Oamaru  8pm  The Penguin Club,.

Door sales. www.thepenguinclub.co.nz

Wednesday 8 August Christchurch Arts Festival, 7pm TelstraClear Club, Cathedral Square. Booking  www.ticketek.co.nz or 03 377 8899. Door sales 1 hour before performance.

Thursday 9 August 7.30pm. Blenheim. The Boathouse, Info  03 578  3324

Friday 10 August 8pm Nelson. Fairfield House, Trafalgar St, Door sales

Sunday 12 August, Christchurch 12.10pm Lunchtime performance for Christchurch Arts Festival, TelstraClear Club, Cathedral Square. Booking www.ticketek.co.nz  or 03 377 8899. Door sales 1 hour before performance.

 

2007  Victorian Country Regional Tour - Details & Booking numbers

Organised by Just Shows To Go , funded by Arts Victoria

 with guest Eugene Belenko - double bass & vocals (see photo -> )

Feb 9  - YARRAM Regent Theatre,  8pm Yarram Newsagency, h.51825083

Feb 10 - ORBOST Exhibition Centre. 8pm venue   Ph.5154 2634

Feb 11 - SWIFTS CREEK Hall. 7:30pm Great Alpine Gallery,Ph.51594445

Feb 16 HORSHAM, WesleyPerf.ArtsCentre, 8pmChisholm HiFi,Ph.538243 4343

Feb 17 STAWELL, Masonic Lodge, Skene St. 8pm Stawell LibraryPh.5358 1274

Feb 18 - MARYBOROUGH HighlandSociety  7:30pmTrebleJewellers,Ph.5461 2052

Feb 23 - WANGARATTA, The Vine Hotel, Nth  8pm  Dislocation Ph.51724594

Feb 24 - RUFFY Public Hall, 8pm. Ph. Glen 5790 4318

Feb 25 - WODONGA Arts Space 5pm  venue Ph. (02)6022 9600

March 2 - MARYSVILLE Country Club 8pm  M'ville Auto Ph.5963 3214

March 3 - MIRBOO NTH. ARTSpit, Grandridge Brewery, 8pm  Ph.56682701

March 4 - TYERS Hall, 7:30pm  Latrobe PAC Box Office Ph.5176 3559

  NZ 2005 TOUR ITINERARY

  26 June 8pm     Devonport Folk Club, Auckland. SOLD OUT

  27 June 10am   Klezmer school show, Michael Park Steiner (Ernie Gruner)

  28 June                    Radio interview - Upbeat -National concert FM program
  29 June 8pm     Hamilton Folk Club. Door charge $12, $8 club members.

                           Back bar, Biddy Mulligans, Victoria St Hamilton
  30 June 7.30pm   Christ Church, Pukehou, Hawkes Bay, Info: 06 874 9756
  1 July  8pm    Theosophical Hall, Church St, Palmerston North Folk Club.

                                                       Door sales $20, club members $15, 15 and under free.

   2 July 8pm  The Upstairs Room, near Waitara, Taranaki. FLYING PIGLETS
  3 July 8pm   Expressions, Upper Hutt. Tickets 04 527 2168 ARTS CENTRE
  5 July Klezmer workshop, Wellington (Ernie Gruner). Info.: Workshop

  6 July                  National Television morning show interview and performances
  8 July           The Boathouse Theatre, Blenheim. Info: 03 578 3324
  9 July 9pm     The Mussel Inn, Onekaka, Golden Bay. Info 03 525 9241
  10 July 8pm    Fairfield House, Trafalgar St South, Nelson. Door charge $15. 

  12 July 8pm     Regent Theatre, Arts Council, Greymouth,
  14 July 8.30pm  The Harbour Light, Lyttelton. Door charge $15. Info 03 328 8615
  16 July             House concert, Wanaka. Info: 03 443 7746
  17 July 7.30pm  Tull Cafe, Bath St, Dunedin, for New Edinburgh Folk Club.

                         Door charge $10, $6 club members

 Bohemian Nights CD LAUNCHs 2005

 1. Saturday October 22nd , THE BOITE

with guests Jen Hawley, Flirting Mazurkas & more

2. Wednesday November 30th, fortyfivedownstairs

"La La La"  (French a capella - Chorale Francaise de Melbourne)

MC Joseph Sherman (Russian Soup) & Tango Dancers

Thankyou for coming ! Thankyou for dancing  !

4TH  NEW ZEALAND TOUR

Whare Flat Festival, NZ : Dec.30 2005 – Jan 3rd 2006

Thursday Jan. 5th     Warrington Memorial Hall 7.30pm

Friday Jan.6th    Hutton Theatre, Dunedin 8.00pm

   previous name & logo