THE XMAS GYPSIES

The duo performed regularly for a year at the Prahran Polish Vodka Bar - "Borsch, Vodka and Tears". Selected performances include a one year weekly residency at The Block Arcade in Melbourne City, The Regent, RACV Club, Titanic Theatre Restaurant, Melbourne Food and Wine Festivals, the Australian Short StoryAwards, Boorondara Federation Dinner, and the Bundoora Art Gallery opening. They have also been involved in a number of theatre collaborations including Theatro Chameleon (Blue Absence) and Mt Waverley Theatre (Emma Celebrazione). In addition they play for many corporate functions, weddings, parties and in shopping centres, as well as being in demand for concerts and festivals.

They recently completed a highly successful tour of New zealand

Both Phil Carrol and Ernie Gruner have wide experience within the lively Australian multicultural music scene. Ernie also plays in comedy cabaret group Jugularity. Klezmeritis led by Ernie specialises in East European Jewish music, while Yalla! led by Phil has a repertoire of Arabic and Turkish music and dance.

Here's what they are saying about Gypsy Nights:

"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

. Two superb musicians from Melbourne, Ernie Gruner on electric violin, himself of Polish and Hungarian parentage, and Phil Carroll on accordion belted out some wonderfully captivating numbers in a variety of styles from klezmer and its associated influences.

Graham Kitchin Review:  Music at the Penguin Club Wed. 10 July

Bloody great night Unda th'Rotunda last night - Ernie & Phil (details scape 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

Xmas Repertoire

• Drummer Boy
• Deck The Halls
• God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
• Good King Wenceslas
• I Dream Of Jeannie(Merry Xmas)
• Jingle bell Rock
• Jingle Bells
• Kalinka(O Merry M. Xmas To You)
• La Bamba (Merry Xmas)
• Macarena (Hey Merry xmas)
• O Xmas Tree
• Rudolph The Red nosed Reindeer
• Santa Claus Is Comin To town
• Sleigh Ride
• Tequila
• Thats Amore(Merry Xmas)
• Turkey (Duck) Dance
• Twelve Days Of Christmas
• War Is Over
• We Wish You A merry Xmas
• White Christmas

CAROLS

• Away In A Manger
• Hallelujah
• Hark The Herald Angels Sing
• It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
• Joy To The World
• Marys Boy Child
• O Come All Ye Faithful
• O Holy Night
• O Little Town Of Bethlehem
• Once In Royal Davids City
• Silent Night
• Silver Bells
• The First Noel
• We Three Kings
• While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks