Les Yeux Noirs

• Genre: Gypsy

About

Formed in 1992, Les Yeux Noirs was the brainchild of Belgian brothers Eric and Olivier Slabiak. Both crack fiddle players, the two were originally trained in classical music. They came across Gypsy music in small clubs and experienced a sea-change in their musical interests, frequenting the clubs and quickly forging relationships with fellow musicians who were keeping traditional folk music alive. They ultimately assembled les Yeux Noirs, a diverse band that's shifted in size over the years, to play a mix of Gypsy and Yiddish music. The group's known for raucous live performances that, while informed by traditional music, play freely with their influences.