Declared by LifeFM 103.6 as “a brilliant rising star”, Alejandro has spent most of his life living in different cities around the World. He graduated from McGill University in 2005 with a major in Classical Saxophone Performance under Pr. Peter Freeman with a minor in music theory. In 2006, he traveled to Moldavia and Romania to study Roma/Gypsy music with Fanfare Ciocarlia, and in the same year he settled in London where, in 2007, he received a Masters degree from SOAS University in Roma / Gypsy Performance Practices. He is currently an active performer in London and abroad, and is finishing a PhD degree in Eastern European Roma / Gypsy Performance Practices with Dr. Laudan Nooshin at London City University.
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Dimitris is a virtuoso Bouzouki and Guitar player. His performance has been described by TimeOut magazine as “a bouzouki masterclass“. He studied music at the Conservatory of Ioannina, and is currently one of London’s leading Bouzouki players. As a guitarist he has been interested in Flamenco and Jazz fusion and performed around the UK and Europe with a number of groups and ensembles. His compositions have been presented and broadcasted in the UK, Greece, Spain, Turkey and Argentina. He currently performs as a free lancer and as a member of the bands Depot, Tumba Libre, Moosootoo, and The Plastic Chairs.
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Dimitris Koufogiorgos -Bouzouki/Guitar (Greece)
Augustin Colette - Double Bass (France)
Augustin brings a touch of Gypsy Swing to the Magic Tombolinos’ international mix. In the past few years he has been active in Paris playing manouche, Eastern European traditional songs, French chansons, and jazz standards with the Swing Deluxe Collective. His musical background includes experiences as diverse as classical training in cello, playing electric bass in funk bands, and taking part in electric Indian music projects in San Francisco. His fast and solid playing is the cornerstone of the Tombolinos’ frenzied rhythm section.
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Nuno studied classical percussion in Portugal at Escola Profissional de Artes da Beira Interior. Through his studies he became knowledgeable in dealing with the most basic musical form to the most challenging one including orchestral performances, Jazz and Latin based music to improvised cacophony. In 2004 he arrived in London and has since been performing and touring abroad with several bands. He is currently completing a Bachelor of Music in Popular Music Performance at UEL University (London) and is also creating and teaching a drum kit program delivered to Primary schools through the organisation Bluenote.
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Nuno Brito - Drums (Portugal)
Tom Baker - Accordion (UK)
Tom begun performing music driven by his love of German cabaret and French chansons during the late 1990s. In 1998, together with French guitarist Sebastien Guerreau, he formed the band Fantasmagoria, with whom he travelled extensively throughout Europe, playing in over 13 countries in the last 8 years, and becoming a cult favourite among the cognoscenti of the international busking festival circuit. At the start of 2008, he left his adopted home in France, to return to the UK to concentrate on his London band The Bohemianauts
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Jozef started to play percussion at the age of 15 on bongos. Through the years playing with various bands he explored many musical styles such a folk, swing, Latin, jazz and fusion. He has explored African and Afro-Cuban percussions with master drummers from Senegal, Cuba and Puerto Rico. He took part to percussion masterclasses in London with Giovanni Hidalgo, Luis Conte, and Equie Castrillo, and in Cuba with Puchito. With The Magic Tombolinos he has found a way back to his Central-European Gypsy roots.
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Alejandro Toledo and the Magic Tombolinos NU POWER ETHNO MUSIC
Contact:
Alejandro Toledo
0044 - 0 - 793 570349
alechkoist@gmail.com
This hot new sextet is made up of traveling musicians from different parts of the globe (Argentina, France, Greece, Portugal, Slovakia, United Kingdom), who bring together their backgrounds and experiences in a celebration of music with no regional boundaries.
In the few months since the band's debut in London, they have become very popular amongst the underground party scene, and have played at leading venues around London, the UK, and overseas.
Led by Alejandro Toledo (Fanfare Ciocarlia student, PhD in Balkan Gypsy Saxophone Performance), this high energy band delivers the most exciting performances Balkanik ethnic music has to offer.
Our ever-evolving musical idiom reflects the way we think and live. Our music, among other things, is a conjunction of various influences (Classical, Rock, Gypsy, African, Middle-Eastern, Latin, and Hip-Hop rhythms) which we bring from places we have lived, visited, or simply the music we like, and have filtered through our own distinct voice.
There isn’t a category yet for this music, though it is often compared and/or referred to as “Gypsy” because of its traveller’s music nature (with many foreign influences, high level of musical technicality, and soulful aesthetic). Yet, we cannot label ourselves or the music we play as foreign or world instead we consider ourselves examples of modern cosmopolitanism.
Press Coverage
Froots, UK, 2008
« these guys get the crowds
going wild »
Royal Albert Hall Ignite Series, UK,
2008
« stylishly serving up
intricate and fun performances of gypsy music »
Gina Boreham,UK, 2008
« burst on to London's
thriving Gypsy Balkan music scene […] and arrived with
something of a bang read more ... »
Lecool, UK, 2008
«
lots
of high-energy Balkan music, a full on dervish of a singer
[… ]. Heaven»
Bern Busker Festival, Switzerland,
2008
« the fiery music will ignite
your passion to dance »
Transform Festival, Norway, 2008
« faster than your brain can
cope »
L'express, Switzerland,
2008
« an
amazing voyage to be savoured »
Download our Press Kit (click to download the pdf)
fRoots, July 2008 (click to download the pdf)
Live in Bern (Switzerland)
Cover of Music Maker, June 2008 (Alejandro with guest musicians Elizabeth Nott, Lili Davis, and Jeremy Halliwell).
L'express, Neuchatel (Switzerland)
Mittelland Zeitung, Bern (Switzerland)
ALEJANDRO TOLEDO and the MAGIC TOMBOLINOS's Friend Space (Top 16)
ALEJANDRO TOLEDO and the MAGIC TOMBOLINOS has 525 friends.
hi alejandro! just stop to enjoy your tunes and to say hello! have fun and good luck with all what you do! i love your music and your vibes! shalom from holly land! julia
Bored of Christmas already? Let Frisky and Mannish inject your favourite classic Christmas songs with their own unique brand of twisted pop cabaret.
“White-hot ones to watch” - TimeOut “Frisky and Mannish are a must-see, so keep your eyes peeled for them. ” - remotegoat We would be honoured if you could join us for our festive spectacular in this fantastic intimate venue - do book to ensure a seat.
The Basement @ The Leicester Square Theatre, Friday 19th and Saturday 20th December 2008, 8.30pm.
Hi! I am playing with my Trio next Thursday 13th November at the Oh!Bar in Camden from 8-9pm, 111-113 Camden High Street, NW1 7JN, free entry, nearest tube is Camden Town, hope to see you there! Maciek
Last concert of the Absinthe Second Series at Le Quecumbar! £8 adv trhough www. wegottickets. com or email nottas.p@googlemail.com Bands start at 8pm. 42 Battersea High Street SW11 3HX
Feed the Beast might be one of the bands which represents UK in Maldives. Hope to see you there supporting the band. If you want a ticket contact David or just mail our site.
