Nominated ‘Album of the Year’ by the American Independent Music Awards, Neil Jacobs’ AMERICAN GYPSY is deserving of every honor it receives: the Eastern European Gypsy tradition is deftly captured, along with overtones of jazz and even flamenco.
Roma and folk traditions are presented in Neil Jacobs’ own guitar styling compositions, supported on many pieces with the Ukrainian violinist Arkadiy Gips. AMERICAN GYPSY, unlike many traditional peasant productions, is apt to reach a wider audience than most: its flamenco styles will draw listeners of Spanish music, its classical precision will appeal to classical musicians, and its Gypsy roots will attract Eastern European listeners who will find the blends surprising and refreshing.
From flamenco to Hungarian gypsy cafe to near-Klezmer beats, AMERICAN GYPSY provides a host of ethnic-rooted, rollicking guitar songs.