Cântec is a London-based band dedicated to the music of the Lautari (Muzica Lăutărească), the traditional Romani musicians from Romania and Moldova.

 

They perform a diverse repertoire of rarely-heard Romanian and Moldovan Horas, Doinas, and Sarbas, all in the distinctive Muzica Lăutărească style.

 

Led by Matt Holborn, an improvising violinist, composer, and educator at the forefront of the UK's Django Reinhardt scene, Cântec is the result of his deep, long-standing interest in Romani violin traditions.

 

The band features master Hungarian Romani musician Kallai Janos, a virtuoso of the cimbalom, alongside Hungarian bassist Andras Lovaszi and guitarist Sol Grimshaw.