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User Name Thread Name Subject Posted
Nick Dow 'Roma' or 'Gypsy' Jazz? (20) RE: 'Roma' or 'Gypsy' Jazz? 30 Jun 25


Let's get this straight. Firstly if you want to show respect then spell Gypsy with a capital G, in accordance with the resolution of the Gypsy Council. Secondly Gypsy is an accepted word for an English Romany. Traveller is a term used for those who have adopted the Romany life but have not been born to it, and yes that does mean most of the Irish Travellers and some Scottish, and before anybody questions that, it does not matter how many generations have been on the road, or if they have mixed Romany blood (they are Didcois). Most Irish Travellers are descended from those dispossessed in the potato famine and are brought up with a hatred of the British, the Romanies and settled folk. Yes there are Irish and Welsh Romany's. Roma refers to European Gypsies, and New Age refers to the modern itinerant Traveller.
All have their cultures, all have their music. Attitudes to each other vary between factions, and settled and itinerant people.
I have known all factions and camped and lived with them, yes including the New Age. Music of any description has name tags for convenience. Close examination shows this, and too much dissection shows that convenience wins over ethnicity. English Blues is a good example. Roma Jazz is as meaningless in the same way but probably refers to European Gypsy Jazz. What am I? I am a Gorgio man unusually married to a Romany wife who was on the road in her youth. We Travelled for about eight years and I love and understand the Romany Folk and their songs. Yes I also love Gypsy Jazz, I wish I could play it.


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