From Sweden's sensational Garmarna(two tracks off their groundbreaking album "Hildegard Von Bingen") to a unique musical synthesis of past and present India; from the deep-felt earthiness of the northern Reindeer people to the creative muse of "down under", and far beyond, this album stands at the leading edge of a new aesthetic in its genre, blending Ethnic, New Age, Pop, Fusion and Gothic influences in a potent musical package.

"Some of Celtic's brightest new female voices in a beautifully crafted compilation that should appeal to fans of Riverdance, Enya or Loreena McKennitt"...Cal Koat, Fairchild Radio, Vancouver, Canada.

To hear a short representative sample medley from this album, click on either of the sample types below. You may also go to our Jazz Music page to purchase this album and hear tracks from other Mike Allen albums.

Album Title	Streaming Real Audio mono sample	MP3 sample
Vancouver	348K	1001K

To hear a short representative sample medley from either album, click on either of the sample types to the right of their titles below. You may also go to our Popular Music page to purchase either album and hear tracks from other easy listening albums.

Album Title	Streaming Real Audio mono sample	MP3 sample
The River Of Golden Dreams Vol. 1	386K	906K
The River Of Golden Dreams Vol. 2	290K	882K

Producer-arranger Mark Bracken has been faithfull to the original renditions of the composers in bringing their wonderful songs back to a worldwide mainstream audience once again. 

Instrumentation includes nylon string guitar, electric guitar, tenor sax, soprano sax, bass and percussion.

A charismatic live performer, the next  stage of Caio's career will take him to North America for on-stage performances and the recording of another album.

The Gitano Family is arguably the finest representative group of such performers and songwriters, thrilling audiences wherever they perform with dynamic musicianship, stirring vocals and heartstopping new songs. Their music is evolved from traditional Spanish Gypsy music. It has been called Flamenco/Rumba, with its roots in Flamenco and its rhythm characterized by the up-beat rumba beat, at times combined with the familiar synchronized handclapping("Palmas"). Of course, the sound from the album "Torero" is more "produced" than was the case in the early days of this type of music. 

The Gypsies' original homeland is India. About a thousand years ago they were forced to flee and headed west through the Middle East and into Europe. The Gitano branch, from which the Gitano Family band are related, settled in Spain many centuries later. As travellers, the Gypsies picked up many musical influences along the way on their journey from India to Spain and finally to southern France where many fled during the Spanish Civil War. That accounts for the Arabic, Indian, Middle Eastern, Spanish and other influences we hear in their music.

They speak French primarily. They also speak Calo, inaccurately called Gitane or Gitano (Gypsy), the traditional language of the Spanish Gypsies. They sing primarily in Spanish--albeit a Spanish that is spoken by the uneducated, and the same form of Spanish that is used in traditional Flamenco music. Their dialect is a combination of the language from the north-east of Spain and the French provincial language, not to be mistaken with Catalan or Arabic.

The musical and familial links among and between Camarque region Gypsies is strong and somewhat legendary.  Indeed, some of the Gitano Family band members(which numbers anywhere from seven up, depending on the particular performance) are direct relatives of Gipsy Kings members(for example, Canut Reyes Amador, pictured at left, who is the guitarist and lead singer, is the son of Gipsy Kings' famous Pablo Reyes and has appeared on stage with the band). It has been said that the Gitanos Gypsies have so many children they can't count them all! 

Among the Gypsies, children are continually exposed to music and encouraged from birth to sing, dance, play guitar and beat out rhythms with whatever is available. It is no wonder, then, that these people should produce such fine and passionate music.

This exciting band, which includes both male and female vocalists plus optional dancers, is also available to perform abroad live, in film(several members appeared in the TV film "Joséphine and the Gypsies", FR, 1995) and on TV.  We invite your enquiries.

Go to our "Specialty Recordings" page for descriptions & sound samples of this collection of over 30 albums.
 

• Movie Music done with a Latin flair--romantic and upbeat unique versions of popular hits
• Beatles Songs with a Latin Beat--and sounding just like the fab four!
• Classical Dance and Hip--groove to the classical greats urbanstyle!
• Disco Latino--disco music with a Latin Beat
• Party Music--from Russian, Judaic, American and Latin cultures
• Love Songs in Spanish--all new songs! "Lo mejor de la musica romantica"
• Holy Land Music--inspired music in the style of gospel, soul and pop
• Judaic Music--religious, party, kids, instrumental, bar mitzvah, holidays and festivals
• Christmas Music--instrumental, with and without choir
• The Joy Of Coffee Break--dedicated to all the coffee lovers worldwide
• Songs For Dog and Cat Lovers--the joy of having a pet pal expressed in song