WELLINGTON’S Gypsy Balkan brass band Niko Ne Zna sing about a Gypsy woman who wants to sell her horse and her house to go dancing. It’s a colourful story typical of the Balkan people, says the band’s founding member, saxophone player Frankie Curac, a Wellingtonian with Croatian and Ukrainian Jewish heritage.
“They are energetic, passionate, fiery cultures,” he says, and band member Mat Enright agrees, “They’re all about heart and soul.”
After finishing school at Rongotai College, Curac did a foundation course in jazz in Wellington before saving for a trip overseas, which turned into a three and a half year O.E spent “learning music and seeing the world.”
He visited relatives in Croatia who lived in a village on an island called Korčula in the Adriatic Sea, and stayed for two months, getting familiar with his roots.
The villagers live a happy, simple life and like to have a good time, says Curac.
“My aunty keeps goats. The typical day consists of having a meal, going to the beach and hanging out,” he explains, “It’s in the Mediterranean so there’s good weather, good food, good wine.”
When Curac came back to Wellington he did a jazz performance degree – “A Bachelor of ii-V-I,” he laughs, referring to the common jazz chord progression – and he co-founded the eight piece Niko Ne Zna about five years ago.
He brought his Balkan influences to the band, which plays high-energy music with dark undertones in a sexy gypsy style.
The band is to present a Big Fat Gypsy Wedding at Bodega, featuring Wellington gyp-hop ruski-roots outfit Bella Cajon. A mobster celebrant will marry the Gypsy bride and groom and there’s a Balkan circle dancing competition.
Niko Ne Zna will mingle with partygoers, “We’ll walk around, play and dance, we like to connect with our audiences,” says Curac.
The secret is out about Croatia. Frankie Curac says it’s become a tourist Mecca, and though he plans to return for another trip to visit friends and relatives, New Zealand is the place for him.
“It felt very homely but it wasn’t quite home. Wellington is home.”
Niko Ne Zna presents The Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, Bodega, October 15.