Seventy years ago, Django Reinhardt changed the guitar forever. His sweeping, swinging and strumming could replace an entire percussion section while making the songs’ rhythms all the more pronounced. The innovative and distinctive playing that emerged from his ravaged three-fingered hand began the movement of Gypsy jazz in Europe – a movement that lives strong within the southern Italian troupe Opa Cupa, whose distinct kaleidoscope jazz blends Gypsy instrumentation with the syncopated, dancy time signatures of the Balkan music of Bulgaria and Serbia.

Wildly popular all throughout Italy, Opa Cupa is embarking on its first tour outside of Europe that just so happens to stop at the WOW Hall tonight to give a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to immerse in the most ruckus, virtuosic, downright fiery performance that world music has to offer.
“They’re giving respect to all these styles of (European) music. They are all fantastic musicians who simply love Balkan music and gypsy music,” said Ursula Knudson, tour manager and lead singer of contributing act Fishtank Ensemble. “They immerse in all of these different types of cultural music, and they want to pay tribute.”
Opa Cupa, named after a shout of exultation used by Gypsies of Southeastern Europe, was formed in 1998 by Cesare dell’Anna, who is widely considered one of the best trumpeters in Italy. The group, which comprises six musicians hailing from cultures all across south and eastern Europe, coalesce a medley of ethnic influences with traditional European jazz to create stunningly brazen compositions that juxtapose uneven, irregular rhythms with the sweet melodies of ancient Bosniak songs.
“This is a show that is not going to be coming around ever again, so this is the perfect opportunity for musicians, lovers of European music, and those who just love to dance to experience something they haven’t before,” Knudson said.
The ensemble recently recorded a live concert with Gypsy legend Esma Redzepova and a band of 30 brass instruments, and played in August with the world-famous Gypsy punks Gogol Bordello. Opa Cupa’s first ever United States tour will promote its latest release, “Hotel Albania,” whose recording sounds as free and improvised as one of the group’s mesmerizing live shows.
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