GipSY kings AndrÉ Reyes in INDIA

Who cares about the world.. you and me moment! I met him in real! (R to L) Purabi Bose n Andre Reyes, Mumbai 2019

First time in India Gipsy Kings of Andre Reyes performed this month as part of Gipsy Unidos tour series at NCPA, Mumbai!
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It doesn't matter whether Felixé (my tabby tom kitty) and I've to sacrifice our dinner fish to cut the monthly budget because I'd to book the front row center seat!
A total worth to be right in front of my darling guitarist and vocalist hero André Reyes. ​

March 9th, 2019 evening for 90 minutes was the moment I re-lived being a teenager.
​It was in early 2000 when I was introduced to Gipsy Kings in a Salsa Club (now closed) in Jakarta, Indonesia. I used to frequent this club on weekends and got hooked to jazz and latin music - all new to me at that time. I'd bought Gipsy Kings CDs and every morning from my home in Jalan Papandayan in Bogor to my office at CIFOR I used to listen it.
Till date, my morning music includes Gipsy Kings. A beautiful way to wake up.. makes my day :-) 

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A total worth to be right in front of my darling guitarist and vocalist hero André Reyes. ​

Me like a teenager - couldn't resist to get a Tee-Shirt Autographed by André Reyes :-) Photo Purabi Bose (2019)

Berkeley to Bombay - Gipsy Kings inspiring all the way

​July 2004 USA. I was doing a short term course on Environmental Leadership at University of California, Berkeley. To my surprise Gipsy Kings were performing right before end of my course at Greek Theatre in Berkeley. I got a ticket - like a student managed to get a cheap back seat ticket - could hardly see them. Yet, just the idea of listening to them live was mind blowing. 

Next year, 2005, when I was in Montpellier and Arles, I craved to visit them - a home town of Gipsy Kings for four decades in the south of France. Their father, Jose Reyes, who had to leave Spain during the Spanish Civil War, kept the Flamenco style music in the heart of their gypsy style songs and music. Andre Reyes, one of the brothers, gave the name 'Gipsy Kings' to the band that originally came into existence around 1978 as Los Reyes. The interesting element of Gipsy Kings work is their ability to pull audiences from 10-90. No wonder the child seating next to me was just 12 years old; she came with her father, while the couple behind me were in their 70s. Its something in the rhythms that mesmerise the audience despite they being all male band. 

Greek Theatre, Berkeley 2004 Gipsy Kings live (Photo Purabi Bose)

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All Male Gipsy Kings without a Queen 

Perhaps, I think that also could be the reason am attracted (as most female audience) is the charming, flamboyant, happy guys, tapping feet and playing guitar - all may sound macho - but these big boys have power to mellow down and balances with soft gentle sexy looking guys (if age is not a factor for you) dressed in black and of course the soothing music!

André Reyes, who plays rhythm guitar and does the vocals is part of the band thats is literally his family - brothers and cousins. 

For me it was a dream come true - singing the songs each one of them from 'Bamboleo' the opening song to the almost wrap up song 'Volare' and then the cheery on the top 'Hotel California'. I hated the idea of seating and listening to this music, and am glad that the band encouraged audience to stand up and dance - if space permits. I guess my love for Gipsy Kings comes from the idea of combination of jazz, flamenco,  and flirtatious aura that naturally evokes any lost sense of emotions. I'd a great time from being a back bencher in 2004 in Berkeley to getting those valuable eye contacts in 2019 in Bombay ;-) Love is in air.. 

Art is how we decorate space
Music is how we decorate time.