Violinist Ernie Gruner and accordionist/singer Phil Carroll play Gypsy, Klezmer, Middle-Eastern, French, Italian, Russian, jazz and tango music which range from soulful to wild. They have both studied overseas, and play and record together in larger bands (Klezmeritis, Yalla!, Flirting Mazurkas).
Australian concerts highlights include the National Folk Festival and National Multicultural Festival. Phil and Ernie’s three NZ tours have included the Wellington Folk Festival and the Christchurch Jazz Festival.
Ernie specializes in Jewish music and Phil specializes in Middle-Eastern music. They have worked together with theatre and dance events for Russian, Armenian, Jewish, Turkish, French and Italian and other productions and communities, as well as parties and weddings.
BOHEMIAN NIGHTS are as experienced at concerts as at the European artform of serenading at tables and taking requests as well as creating atmosphere in a street festival. The duo was originally named Gypsy Nights after a famous duo that entertained in the restaurants and cafes of Budapest in the 1930s.
Selected Performances
residency at The Block Arcade, The Regent, RACV Club, Titanic Theatre Restaurant, Melbourne Food and Wine Festivals, Australian Short Story Awards, Boorondara Federation Dinner, Bundoora Art Gallery opening. Theatre Collaborations : Theatro Chameleon (Blue Absence), Mt Waverley Theatre (Emma Celebrazione),many corporate functions, weddings, parties, shopping centres, as well as concerts and festivals.
Bohemian Nights can also play for functions with Phil playing keyboards or piano.
PA is available and depending on the event and if dancing is preferred a double bass and drums, guitar, vocalist etc may be added.
Quotes
Your performance added immeasurably to the event – it put everyone in a fantastic party mood.Mary Lou Jelbart – fortyfivedownstairs 2005
It was a fantastic concert, what a way to start the series, people are still raving about it all over town.Anna Shaw WANAKA New Zealand Tour July 2005
It was a pleasure to see you again and enjoy your fabulous concert; we had a lot of positive feedback Mathilda Schorer PUKEHOE New Zealand Tour July 2005
Bohemian Nights Wedding Band:
Thank you so so much for the wonderful music the other night. It was perfect for the night and I am glad that I put off my party that extra month so that you guys would be back to play.
A lot of people commented on how fantastic the music and the dancing was, it lifted everything in a swirl of fabulous atmosphere.
The sensitive and affecting musical accompaniment by Ernie Gruner and Phillip Carroll was exemplary… one of the best productions I saw in 2002. Bagryana Popov July 2005
Russian Soup – Theatre based on Chekov, Gogol, Dostoevsky short stories with traditional and original music by Gypsy Nights, actors : Josef Sherman, Greg Ulfan, director: John Bolton; review by Malcolm Robertson
Gypsy Nights got the audience clapping along with their accordion and fiddle before the evening began The Age review of Theatre Cameleon 2001
Gypsy Nights treated the audience to a dazzling display of Eastern European and Middle-Eastern music…Ernie’s virtuoso violin thrilled the audience, and its expressive lyricism – together with Phil’s lively and complex accordion – brought to life the cafe scene of Budapest and Paris in the 1930’s. Played with sensitivity and humor, the music generated an energy that could only be expressed through dancing Wyreena Arts Centre 2002
Awesome performanceGreymouth NZ
Bloody great nightWellington Folk Club NZ
Great to see people so passionately involved in keeping alive such colorful musical traditions….their music speaks to everyonePenguin Club NZ
A quiet night was NOT had by patrons of The Conservatory Café at Wyreena Community Arts Centre in Croydon on Friday night. Gypsy Nights, with Ernie Gruner on violin and Phil Carroll on accordion, vocals and nez (an Egyptian flute made of bamboo from the Nile) treated the audience to a dazzling display of Eastern European and Middle Eastern music. Ernie’s virtuoso violin thrilled the audience, and its expressive lyricism – together with Phil’s lively and complex accordion – brought to life the café scene of Budapest and Paris in the 1930s. Played with sensitivity and humour, the music generated an energy that could only be expressed through dancing.
Review: GYPSY NIGHTS AT WYREENA, Friday 14th December, 2001
Bloody great night Unda th’Rotunda last night – Ernie & Phil (details escape me) demonstrated how to be authenteekly Kosher (they were from Melbourne) in about 15 different languages, inc. that spoken by Nile reeds. Wellington NZ review
Repertoire
We take requests!!!
Aint Misbehavin(vocals) Beginning To See The Light Don’tMeanAThing(vocals) Is You Is(vocals) Makin Whoopee(vocals) Minor Swing My Blue Heaven(vocals) Pennies From Heaven Please Dont Talk About Me Polkadots and Moonbeams Sentimental Journey T’aint What You Do The Glory Of Love
Jewish
Ale Brider (vocals) Bei Mir Bist du Schon(vocals) Fiddler On The Roof Hava Nagilah(vocals) Klezmer Tunes Mazeltov Shalom Alachem(vocals) Tum Balalaika (vocals)
German
Beer Barrell Polka Ein Prosit Luxemburg Polka Valerie Valera
Jig Medley Reel Medley Londonerry Air Ashoken Farewell Sailors Hornpipe Irish Waltzes Irish Eyes(vocals) Danny Boy(vocals)
French
A Man And A woman Alouette (vocals) Autumn Leaves CanCan C’est Si Bon Charade I Wish you Love I Love Paris If I Stay Forever J’Attendrai Je Ne Regrette Rien La Mer La Foulle La Goulante(vocals) La Mer La Seine La Vie En Rose(vocals) L’Accordioniste: Le Marsellaise Les Miserables Les Negresses Vertes Waltz Mi Lord(vocals) Michelle: Moulin Rouge Padam: Paris Tango Petite Fleur Pigalle Plaisir D’Amour Sous le Ciel de Paris Sous Le Pont de Paris Third Man Theme Tintine (vocals) Tit Galop(vocals) Under The Bridges Of Paris
Greek
Never On A Sunday Ruby My Love White Dove Of Athens Zorba
Gypsy/Russian
Czardis (Monti) Czardis (Russian) Dark Eyes(vocals) Hungarian Dance no.5 Kalinka(vocals) Katuisha(vocals) Lara’s Theme Those Were The Days(vocals) Troika Medley
Italian
Arriverderci Roma Bella Ciao: Calabrisella Mia Campagnolla Bella: Cappricioni Italiano Carnival Of Venice Chicken (Duck) Dance Ciao Ciao Bambino Come Back To Sorrento Come Prima Come Tu Facetta Mametto ConTe Partiro (Bocelli:) Cuiccio Bedu: Finiculi Finicula (vocals) Forget About Domani Godfather Theme Isle Of Capri Libiamo (Verdi) Love Story Mambo Italiano(vocals) Marina(vocals) More Nessun Dorma Non Dimenticar O Solo Mio Quando quando Que Sera Ragazzioni(Veni Veni) Romeo and Juliette Santa Lucia Tarantellas (vocals) That’s Amore (vocals) Three Coins in The Fountain Tiamo Tiribomba Un Mazziolini Fiori Volare(vocals)
Latin
Bessame Mucho(vocals) Black Orpheus El Cumbenchero(vocals) Hernando’s Hideaway(vocals)
Jealousy:
La Paloma Perfidia Sway Tangos Tequila Y Viva Espana(vocals)
plus Serbian Polish Croatian Arabic Turkish Macedonian Christmas Oldtime etc.