
A long time ago, back in 2002 or 2003, a record came across John Schaefer’s desk that changed everything. It was Iag Bari, by the brass band Fanfare Ciocarlia, a 12-piece consisting of horns and percussion from Zece Prajini, a small village in the northeast of Romania. To say that the record was on repeat in John's mini-stereo for many months seems a gross understatement. The lyrics to the title track translate to “the great longing,” and I learned every vocal and horn line before too long. John seemed to be cool with his staff’s new obsession, to a point — I’m pretty sure that I was busted a few times by a bemused Mr. Schaefer for dancing around like a fool in the tiny shared office. Since then, each new Fanfare Ciocarlia record has been a cause for celebration.
So it is with much excitement and great joy that we bring you the exclusive premiere of the band's new rocket of a record, Onwards to Mars. It marks the band’s 20th anniversary, and coincides with their latest run of dates across North America. The record is a buoyant collection of Romanian songs and dances — guaranteed to lift moods, induce bouncing (please don’t do this while driving), and make new fans of their speedy and danceable brass music. There’s a demented waltz of the Screamin' Jay Hawkins tune, “I Put A Spell On You!” and a pounding cover of “Bunica Bate Toba” (which Google translates to “Grandma drum beat") by Moldovian rock band, Zdob si Zdub, plus an adventure of a collaboration with Columbian cumbia band Puerto Candelaria - "Fiesta de Negritos." The main course of the record, though, is seven reliably propulsive tunes by composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist Koby Israelite, four of which were written specifically for Fanfare. Please listen and enjoy:
You may know Fanfare Ciocarlia from their outstanding cover of Steppenwolf’s “Born to Be Wild,” featured in the 2006 film Borat; or their take on “Caravan” (Tizol, Ellington); or maybe just the sounds of their horns, which have been sampled and transmuted into club bangers by a number of European and American producers and DJs.
From small clubs to giant festivals, Fanfare Ciocarlia can work a crowd of any age and any size into dancing and clapping. Their speed and precision is legendary (they describe themselves as "the speed kings of gypsy brass"), as is their sense of goofy, cheeky fun: shows often spill over from the stage straight into the venue lobby and beyond.
Fanfare Ciocarlia perform their inimitable brass fantasticness at Town Hall in NYC on April 22, and are on a North American tour now. Onwards to Mars is out April 15, on Asphalt Tango Records.