Gypsy Fever

The skilful interplay of the guitars allows the Urban Gypsies to explore and extend musical possibilities. All this is accomplished with an upfront authority that comes from a definite mastery of their instruments.

J. Low

“You guys were fantastic last night. It was a privilege to be awash in such a beautiful soundscape. The audience was so appreciative and respectful of the class of music you provide…You were stunning.”

A. Smith

Originally a Perth based acoustic guitar duo, Gypsy Fever are now a Sydney duo, trio, quartet or even more. On this particular album, the core of the group remains as jazz / Latin guitarists Gavin Libotte and Gordon Tan, and their omnipresent resonant strummery is felt everywhere. Their finely crafted plucking is enhanced with the addition of extras such as violins, bass, drums, percussion and oud, which allows the group to create a hypnotic world of sound that is unrestricted and open to experimentation. This extended freedom has seemingly encouraged the pair to extend their boundaries stylistically, as they produce a culturally crossed over brand of music that mixes jazz, Eastern exotica, Latin, Gypsy and Classical. The soft focus sound is clearly aimed at the living room or the café, but the energetic prowess of the players makes for some fine concentrated listening indeed. Just listen to the blistering acoustic lead runs on the Ottmar Liebert flavoured String Theory, the dreamily restrained percussion on The Promise or the harmonic interplay on My Place. Top notch little moments like these that populate the entire recording. Classy and smooth – check it out.

P. Bennett

P. Bennett

Gavin Libotte and Simon Phillips have been playing together for 2 years, and have developed a playful style, with intricate interplay, original melodies and flashes of virtuosity. It’s hard to pick a single track for airplay. The whole album is a satisfying journey, with influences from a world of jazz, flamenco, groove, and Latin rhythms. The delicate percussion forms an integral part of the sound, allowing the guitars more space to create beauty. The production is superb, with attention to the tone and warmth of the guitar. Sauvage is seriously impressive!

J. Hall