2010. June 1. (Tuesday) 22:30
Kalyi Jag

Kalyi Jag’s music is ancient and authentic Gypsy music that is sad and joyous at the same time, which bursts with energy and goes to your soul. It speaks about fate and destiny, about love, encounters, deception and pain. It is alive, passionate and honest. It does not go into philosophy but helps to live and experience.

The band Kalyi Jag (Black Flame) was formed in 1978 by musicians, lawyers and educators under the leadership of Gusztáv Varga (who received the Knight’s Cross of the Hungarian Republic in 2009). They were the first to appear in public with their own language, Romani. Folk music and folk dance have become a part of our lives, most Roma dance groups dance to the music of Kalyi Jag. They reputation spread quickly both in Hungary and the whole world.

A number of TV channels made films about them, including M1, BBC, RAI1, ZDF and others from Budapest to Brazil. They have toured the entire world as the most original and authentic ambassadors of Hungarian Gypsy music. Their style has by now become a brand name. It is not only their vocal skills and virtuosity with the instruments which make them unique, but the fact that all their songs are sung from the heart. In Europe their album became platinum and their songs are heard all over the world. Kalyi Jag inspired other folk music formations that play traditional music. They have received numerous awards and prizes, including among others the MTV European Award and the World Music Mega Star. In addition to playing music, they have also collected many songs and material which are now in the archives of the institute of Music of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.

Members of the band: Gusztáv Varga (founder) guitar, vocal, dance
József Nagy churn, oral bass, rhythm, derbuka, dance
Gusztáv Balogh vocal, guitar, violin, mandolin
Zsuzsanna Feyer vocal, dance
Andrea Balogh vocal, dance
Krisztina Balogh vocal, dance
Ilona Balogh vocal, dance