The Budapest Cafe Orchestra

Budapest Café Orchestra are:

CHRISTIAN GARRICK – violin, darbuka

EDDIE HESSION – accordion 

KELLY CANTLON – double bass 

ADRIAN ZOLOTUHIN – guitar, saz, balalaika, domra

Refreshingly unconventional and snappily attired boutique orchestra. Budapest Café Orchestra bring you gypsy and folk-flavoured music in their own fresh and surprising way. From Balkan and Russian traditional pieces to artful distillations of the masterpieces by the great Romantic composers to Gaelic folk anthems their infectious music will get into your veins and stay there forever.

With 14 albums to their name the Budapest Café Orchestra was established in 2009 by British composer and violinist, Christian Garrick, and led by him have won legions of fans with their magical and infectious performances. A small but impeccably formed ensemble of just four players, the BCO combines violin, guitar, accordion, double bass, saz & balalaika to dazzling effect, creating an awesome aural alchemy normally only characteristic of far larger ensembles.

Two of the country’s celebrated international soloists revel at the heart of proceedings. Accordionist exemplar Eddie Hession is a supreme accordion champion of Great Britain. In his illustrious career he has accompanied Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras and Chris Rea.  Christian Garrick is one of the world’s most celebrated jazz violinists. He has played music with Dame Cleo Laine & Sir John Dankworth, Wynton Marsalis, Nigel Kennedy, Bireli Lagrene, Tim Minchin, Caro Emerald and John Etheridge. One of Russia's most enigmatic musical exports, The Sultan (sic Adrian Zolotuhin) is a master of the strummed strings of domra, balalaika, guitar and saz.  Veteran bass-man Kelly Cantlon has been in the business of laying down the low notes for many-a-moon.  Kelly first found fame in the as a Vagabond with Northern Soul sensations Jimmy James and the Vagabonds.  

Evoking vivid images of Tzigane fiddle maestros, Budapest café life and gypsy campfires -  plus a few surprises along the way -  hugely entertaining, immense skill and profound musicianship, a show by the BCO is enough to make you want to book that holiday down the Danube!  

"Not so much a band name as a whole genre of its own, Budapest Café Orchestra embraces an encyclopaedia of music and mischief."  SCOTSMAN

“Your music is really great.” Helena Bonham Carter

"Their arrangements are brilliant, their improvisations inspired. Their humour and, on occasion, sheer silliness hides a real brilliance of execution. In every bit of the material the charming irony hides really serious and focussed music-making. This is entertainment of a high order.  Sir Roger Norrington

“The music is magic in their hands.”  Sean Rafferty BBC Radio 3