‘La Panika’

 La Panika was born of a meeting between the Belgian saxophonist Benito Blancquaert, the Bulgarian Romani accordeonist Petar Elmazov and the French trumpet-player Jean-Pierre Lietard. Today La Panika consist of between 8 and 12 talented musicians of French, Bulgarian, Belgian and Macedonian origin. They compose, arrange and perform the traditional Romani and Balkan music of Bulgaria, Macedonia and Turkey. After having given hundreds of concerts in Europe and Morocco, on stage there is no mistaking their virtuosity and irrepressible passion for the music of the Black Sea.  And above all, a deep understanding of the virtuosity and conviviality inherent in the brass bands of the Balkan villages.