Love Songs and Gypsy Jazz
Opening of the Second Open-Air Cinema Festival - Theme of the Evening: Sinti and Roma

Marbach.

Just in time for the start of the second Marbach Summer Night Cinema, the summer nights arrived: clear and balmy, perfect for sitting outdoors.

Around 300 spectators enjoyed the southern atmosphere of the castle square on Saturday evening. The theme of the evening was the Sinti and Roma. "We want to challenge the romanticized and prejudiced view of so-called Gypsy life," emphasized Klaus Schönberger in his opening speech. The Josef Balog Trio from Stuttgart offered insights into the cultural traditions of this often-persecuted people. With a spartan instrumentation of two guitars and a bass, they managed to get the audience swinging.

At times melancholic and somber, at others joyful and exuberant, they virtuously mastered the full range of emotions. Their songs tell of love, gypsy romance, and fiery gypsy jazz. Musically, the trio draws on a rich palette of influences. Combined with the lyrics, some of which are in German, this creates a playful, Caterina Valente-esque feel.

The fascinating mix of diverse musical styles, from pop hits and traditional gypsy songs to jazz, testifies to the three Stuttgart musicians' playful approach to these elements. The reminiscences of Django Reinhardt, the man who found the French answer to American jazz, are unmistakable. The Balog Trio, consisting of Joschi Graf, Branko Arnsek, and Josef Balog, is certainly far from riding the current wave of ethno-pop. Instead, they prefer a more tranquil and jazzy sound. The sophisticated Gypsy swing with its characteristic guitar sounds was so well received by the audience that night, and thus the film "Time of the Gypsies," came almost too soon. Attuned to the music, the viewers were transported to a strange and poetic world full of magic and tragedy. With this opening night, the organizers, Autonomes Zentrum Marbach and Scala Kinokult Ludwigsburg, succeeded in bringing a touch of Locarno to Marbach. After this exciting start to Marbach's Summer Night Cinema Week, anticipation is high for the rest of the program. Films, music, and theater will be presented under the open sky every evening until Saturday.

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Love songs and Gypsy jazz
Opening of the second open-air cinema festival - theme of the evening: Sinti and Roma