With a history of collaborations spanning from Eastern Europe to Ohio University, the members of American Gypsy share the eclecticism far more diverse than the average band's rock and roll roots. The self-described "gypsy power trio" will bring its music at 9 p.m. Saturday to The Front Room as part of the Baker Nights concert series.
"Our music is so unique that it's not like there's other bands that play our type of music," said John Douglas, bassist. "People are like 'Where'd you guys come from?' They never expected to hear that sort of music or for it to be fun."
That "type of music" includes a blend of Eastern European gypsy, jazz, and Balkan folk, complete with finger-picked 12-string guitar by Neil Jacobs, Douglas and violin accompaniment from Arkadiy Gips.
Jacobs, who plays 200 solo shows a year in addition to his work with the band, composed and arranged most of the band's material. A few songs are derived from traditional gypsy and folk melodies. He has intimate experience with the style — from 1994 to 1995 he traveled to Spain as a representative of the Greater Columbus Arts Council and lived among gypsies.
"I lived with the gypsies, I had a personal gypsy guide. I studied culture and soaked up everything I could," he said.
Though he had trained extensively in similar styles and played in Eastern Europe in the '80s, the Spain trip was Jacobs' first experience with gypsy music.
"(The Arts Council) must have thought I had it in my blood," Jacobs said.
After going to Spain, Jacobs returned home to Columbus and continued his heavy touring schedule. He became involved with a Balkan music group based in Columbus, where he met Gips. Jacobs then brought in Douglas, with whom he had collaborated in the 1970s on an album called Cold Fish that was recorded live at the Front Room. The trio began playing together as American Gypsy in the mid-'90s.
Douglas, an award-winning bassist in his own right, brought a rock and jazz background to Jacobs' traditional gypsy and folk.
Gips, who performs in several other groups around the region, studied violin at the Conservatory of Music in Kiev and performed with the Rostov Symphony in Russia. He and his family fled their home in the Ukraine because of the political situation there after the Soviet Union collapsed. He now lives outside Columbus.
"Here, I have exactly what I would like to have — eight different groups — classical, folk, jazz. It's impossible to have that in the Ukraine," he said.
The group does not practice between performances because of busy schedules and a desire to keep the material fresh.
"A real professional musician doesn't need a lot of rehearsal," Gips said. "The Columbus Symphony Orchestra only has two rehearsals before a performance."
The group hopes to record another live album during this weekend's Front Room performance, using songs from their self-titled 2000 studio album and a few of the Cold Fish songs.
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Chris DeVille
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Members of American Gypsy has thrilled and mesmerized audiences across the United States and Europe. Arkadiy Gips, from left, 12-string guitarist/composer Neil Jacobs, and bassist John Douglas form this exciting, high-energy trio.
