CZECH-GYPSY-BILA

Czech Queen of Gypsy Jazz, Vera Bila and her band Kale perform 10 August 2005 on a stage located on an artificial „beach” opened at the beginning of August in Prague’s southwestern Smichov district on the city’s Vltava (Moldau) river. Vera Bila – one of the Czech Republic’s finest Roma singers – who regularly tours major venues around the world, including Paris, New York, and Singapore. Now, Bila – and her group Kale – have released a new album. It bears the French title „c’est comme ca” – „that’s how it is” and from the first notes there is no mistaking the deep and earthy voice that made this Gypsy diva known worldwide. The Felliniesque singer and her four guitar-strumming accompanists can easily invoke sounds of Brazilian pop stars Gal Costa, Maria Bethania or Djavan, as well as echoes of Django Reinhardt, the great Roma jazz guitarist, and the Gypsy Kings. AFP PHOTO MICHAL CIZEK