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The ancient musical traditions of the "lautari" gypsies of Romania are extended through the unique performances of Taraf de Haïdouks, a band of 12 instrumentalists and singers aged 20 to 78. In addition to recording four memorable albums of traditional tunes, the group has appeared on television with Yehudi Menuhin and has recorded and performed with Swiss pop star Stephan Eicher. The music of Taraf de Haïdouks was featured in Tony Gartlif's award-winning film, Latcho Drom. According to David Harrington of Kronos Quartet, Taraf de Haïdouks "take their listeners to the essence of music; that place where the bow meets the string and a world of action follows." Taraf de Haïdouks, who take their name from the Haidouks, Robin Hood-like thieves who are recalled in many of the group's ballads, hail from the small Romanian vollage of Clejani, southwest of Bucharest. The group stuck close to their home village until being "discovered" by Stephen Karo and Michael Winter, two Belgian music fans w...