During the last 20 years the name of PARNO GRASZT (meaning White Horse assymbol of purity and freedom in Romani language) became the equivalent ofauthentic Hungarian Gypsy music.

At least that’s what critics say.

For the group, being authentic was nothing more than beingthemselves. Living in integrity, living a life and playing a music they alwayshave had. As Simon Broughton (Songlines) said after spending a weekend withParno Graszt in their home village Paszab: ‘They do not use sources of Gypsymusic, they are the source itself.’

Indeed, back in Paszab at times of social ceremonies (let itbe any kind) music is shared by each one of the community: instruments arepassed from hand to hand and practically everyone is a dance master. There isno band, there is no audience. There is one unified festive gathering. ForParno Graszt, their backyard is just the same as a festival stage with an audienceof 50,000... too bad they cannot go on stage all together!

The band plays traditional Gypsy folk songs collected fromNorth East Hungary and Romania along with their own compositions, thusrepresenting a specific local dialect of Roma music. Their instruments areacoustic guitars, double bass, tamboura, spoons, stereo (!) water can and the‘oral bass’ which is a continous vocal improvisation made by the percussionist.The band consists of 9 musicians including 4 dancers which is sometimes extendedwith cimbalom, accordion, violins and taragot.

Today a 50-years-old archive video is projected behind thegroup on stage, presenting the parents and grandparents of Parno Graszt dancingparallel with them – a real time journey between past and present! On specialoccasions the number of dancers are extended to 18 including three generationsaged from 7 to 78.

Their first album HIT THE PIANOwas released in 2002 by FONÓ RECORDS and hit nr. 7 on WORLD MUSICCHARTS EUROPE which was at least surprising since never any Hungarian bandreached the TOP 10 before!

World music radios discovered Parno Graszt. The catching, easy-to-sing-alongmelodies and superfast rhythms gained many fans around the world, especiallyafter the first live shows abroad where everyone was astonished by theelementary power of the Paszabi Gypsies... no one could stop dancing...

Since then Parno Graszt has played all around Europeincluding THE NETHERLANDS (tour 2004), NORWAY, RUSSIA, GERMANY (tour 2005), AUSTRIA,POLAND, SWITZERLAND (Paleo Festival 2006), FRANCE (Tribu Festival 2004, 12-gigstour 2007), BELGIUM (Gaume Jazz Festival 2004, Balkan Trafik Festival 2008) aswell as the most prominent venues in HUNGARY like Sziget Festival or Palace ofArts.

In 2004, European Broadcasting Union and BBC produced theseries EUROPEAN ROOTS, presenting the indigenous music genres of Europe. Partof the series, the documentary episode presenting Parno Graszt HOLIDAYSAND EVERYDAYS was presented all overEurope and acclaimed very good critics.

The much anticipated second album IN MY WORLDwas featuring world-famous Hungarian Gypsy cimbalom master KÁLMÁN BALOGH. Forthis record, Parno Graszt was selected into the TOP 10 OF BEST GROUPS in 2005by the Swiss magazine VIBRATIONS.

After a successful French tour in 2007, the group celebratedits 20th anniversary with the new album THISWORLD IS MADE FOR ME. For this occasion, DJ Gaetano Fabri (remixer of Tarafde Haidouks, Kocani Orkestar and Mahala Rai Banda) made his debut remix forParno Graszt’s Gelem Gelem. At the same time, two major labels, World Music Network and EastblokMusic selected one song off the new album for their compilations: ROUGH GUIDE TOTHE MUSIC OF HUNGARIAN GYPSIES and BALKANBEATS 3 respectively.