Gypsy Kumbia Orchestra
Impressive, energetic, colourful! Everything is larger than life with the Gypsy Kumbia Orchestra! The group, which helped set the scene at the Sala Rossa between 2015 and 2018, has a true sense of showmanship. Offering music, dance and circus arts, its 13 members – 10 musicians, two dancers and an acrobat – are fully devoted to their audiences. Nothing is left to chance in their carnival-like performances, with history and stage production at the heart of their creative chaos and their wacky imagination.
Prominent in the group’s origins in 2012 were a pair of duos, with Juan Sebastian Mejia and Carmen Ruiz as artistic directors and Anit Gosh and Aurélien Tomasi as musical directors. The group came to define itself as an orchestra that takes us on a tropical journey fitting its desires, starting with the extravagance of the Balkan world in the golden age of brass bands and moving on to a blend of Colombian Caribbean beats, percussions and varied influences, unmatchable in getting the crowds dancing. Celebration and joy, but also freedom, humanity and pulling together, are the values that the GKO has proclaimed emphatically since its beginnings.
In 2015, their début album, Revuelta Danza Party, driven by their talent and ingenuity, earned two nominations in the Juno Awards and ADISQ galas in the world music category. The secret behind this great performance machine lies in its symbiotic collaboration. Each member takes part in the creative process, enriching the compositions and offering a broader view of world communities.
GKO released its second album, VelkomBak, digitally on May 15. This project – original, coherent and every bit as festive – stirred enthusiasm and drew the participation of theatre director Ricard Soler Mallol, circus director Patrick Léonard (Les 7 doigts de la main) and producer Christian Castagno (Bomba Estereo and the B-52s, among others). The group’s musical palette was broadened for this creation, from the Andes to Quebec and including India and Spain, along with other popular musical styles such as ska, jazz and funk.
Recognized as one of Québec’s top world music groups, GKO has presented more than 300 concerts across Canada, in Colombia and in Europe. Their live presentation will be a grand première on the stage of the National. The stage production, with its circus elements and immersive sets, is sure to make a splash! Bearing in mind that the group’s raison d’être – their ultimate mission – is to offer the audience a true experience, there is every reason to expect an unforgettable evening.