Gadji-Gadjo with special guest Ami Saraiya

Take the best of Klezmer and Tzigane (Gypsy), add a dash of Québecois, stir in a sprinkling of original compositions, simmer for a few years to let the flavors meld, and you begin to get the gist of Gadji-Gadjo. Created in 2002 by vibrant accordionist Mélanie Bergeron, the group also features five other musicians from different regions of Quebec who all now live in Montreal: Jean-Sebastien Leblanc on clarinets, Pierre-Olivier Dufresne on violin, Jean Desrochers on guitar, Mathieu Deschenaux on bass and Ivan Bamford on percussion. With its zesty, high-spirited live show, Gadji-Gadjo is rapidly becoming a hip favorite in the burgeoning klezmer/gypsy scene.

From Chicago's thriving underground folk scene, The Cedar welcomes singer, guitarist and accordionist Ami Saraiya.  A formidable vocalist who tackles gypsy, Bollywood, and her own unique originals with equal aplomb, Ami recently released her debut solo album Archeologist, chosen by CD Baby as one of 10 to watch in 2010.
"With a sound that’s equal parts Feist, Billie Holiday, post-modern folk, Rufus Wainwright, and 60‘s pop, this album is wildly delightful and full of surprises. With a strong and nuanced voice, Saraiya is able to bring emotion and personality to every phrase, even when the lyrics involve time machines, judgment day, or kisses. Its warm production is heightened by layers of delicate aural pleasures, like subtle background vocals, surf guitars, or ethereal violins or pedal steel guitar. It's all very beautiful, well-crafted, and excellently mixed. Good stuff all around." (5 stars, Peter Swenson, editor CD Baby)
Tickets are on sale now from the Cedar Ticketline (612-338-2674 ext 2), Cedar outlets, and online at Ticketweb.