ZMEI3

Zmei3 (pronounced zmay-tray) is a Romanian group whose eccentric sound melds together elements of Romanian folk, soul, blues, jazz, and avant-garde. Fronted by powerhouse vocalist Paula Turcas, a former opera singer, and featuring vibraphonist Oli Bott, guitarist/lyricist Mihai Victor Iliescu, and double bassist Arnulf Ballhorn, the band's unusual name is inspired by zmeu (zmei plural), a supernatural half-dragon/half-man creature from Romanian mythology. Their intense and often freeform songs frequently deal with the harsh struggles of post-Communist rule in their home countr...