Some fiddle players may never see themselves as violinist.  Some violinist will never consider themselves a fiddler.   It does not matter what you call the instrument; Gilles Apap is a modern master, who has blurred the lines between classical, bluegrass, gypsy, jazz and swing music.  Like a mad scientist, Gilles can blend a musical potion that will astounds classical audiences one minute and dazzle a bluegrass gathering the next.  He joins us at Música Del Río with a reunion of his original band The Transylvanian Mountain Boys.

Chris Judge on guitar and Brendan Statom on double bass – both consummate artists in their own rights – join Gilles for a return visit to roads seldom traveled by anyone except The Transylvanian Mountain Boys.  These roads will lead us to traditional gypsy tunes from Rumania, Bulgaria and Hungary, along with the ’30s Swing sound of Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt – with touches of bluegrass and whatever else these wizards put together.

Hailed as a true violinist of the 21st Century by no less than Yehudi Menuhin, Gilles Apap is a classical violinist who is in great demand as a soloist with orchestras around the world.  He has become widely known for his extraordinary ability to integrate a variety of musical genres, crossing boundaries between styles as diverse as American old-time, Irish, and Gypsy fiddling, with the standards of the classical repertoire.  With his first ensemble, The Transylvanian Mountain Boys’ release of Who? (on Sony Classical) in 1994, Gilles shook the classical music scene with his unparalleled interpretations of classical works arranged for violin, viola, guitar and double bass, interspersed with traditional folk tunes.

We are astounded that we have been given the pleasure of closing our 2009-2010 season with Gilles, Chris and Brendan.  Please join us for this historical evening at Música Del Río.