Les Yeux Noirs

About

Combining elements of jazz manouche and other Romani music, Yiddish and Klezmer music, this Paris-based sextet offers an irresistible invitation to participate in some of the most rhythmic and emotional sounds emanating from any part of the world. Led by fiddle playing brothers Eric and Olivier Slabiak—who’s family has been soaked in Gypsy and Manouche music for centuries—Les Yeux Noirs is a high-energy celebration of history and life. With each frenetic stroke of their bows, Les Yeux Noirs take the listener further into a dizzying vortex of Central European sounds and images.


Areas of representation: Worldwide (except France)

Artist links: Website  |  Facebook  |  Wikipedia

Biography

For over twenty years, Les Yeux Noirs (The Black Eyes) have been carving their own path down the road of Yiddish and Gypsy music. Led by fiddle playing brothers Eric and Olivier Slabiak, Les Yeux Noirs is a high-energy celebration of history and life.

The brothers grew up in the Marais of Paris, their family soaked in Gypsy and Manouche music for centuries. Two uncles, both professional violinists, used to bring their friends around, including Joseph Reinhardt and his pals from the Hot Club de France. Little Eric and Olivier were early virtuosos, the pride of the family. And in 1992 they combined their triple cultures—classical, rock, and Gypsy—and founded Les Yeux Noirs.

In 2000, the band left behind traditional standards, and began incorporating their own compositions into the repertoire. Drums, accordion, electric bass and guitar rounded out the ensemble.

Since 2001, Les Yeux Noirs have performed more than two hundred concerts in their nine U.S. tours. They have widened their original base beyond the comfortable networks of cultural centers and theaters, conquering new venues worldwide: jazz and classical festivals, California biker clubs, churches and smoky cellars. Wherever they go, Les Yeux Noir is guaranteed to have the audience smiling and dancing, captivated by the gypsy spirit.

Tour Dates

Future Tour Dates

View Tour History

Tour History

Return to Future Tour Dates

2015
Mar 22, 2015 Venue Info
West Palm Beach, FL USA Dreyfoos Hall - Kravis Center
7:30pm  
Mar 21, 2015 Venue Info
Chicago, IL USA Mayne Stage
7:30 & 10 pm  
Mar 20, 2015 Venue Info
Cedar Rapids, IA USA CSPS Hall
8:00 PM  
Mar 19, 2015 Venue Info
Sheboygan, WI USA John Michael Kohler Arts Center
7:30 PM  
Mar 19, 2015 Venue Info
Sheboygan, WI USA John Michael Kohler Arts Center
7:30 PM  
Mar 18, 2015 Venue Info
Sheboygan, WI USA John Michael Kohler Arts Center
7:30 PM  
Mar 17, 2015 Venue Info
Sheboygan, WI USA John Michael Kohler Arts Center
6:30 PM  
Mar 17, 2015 Venue Info
Sheboygan, WI USA John Michael Kohler Arts Center
7:30 PM  
Mar 15, 2015 Venue Info
Wayne, NJ USA Shea Center for the Performing Arts - William Patterson University
3:00 PM  
Mar 13, 2015 NY Gypsy Festival Venue Info
New York, NY USA Drom
11:45 PM  
Mar 13, 2015 NY Gypsy Festival Venue Info
New York, NY USA Drom
11:45pm  
Mar 12, 2015 Venue Info
Lousiville, KY USA Kentucky Center - Bomhard Theater
8:00 PM  
Mar 8, 2015 Venue Info
Phoenix, AZ USA Musical Instrument Museum (MIM)
7:00PM  
Mar 7, 2015 Venue Info
Los Angeles, CA USA Theatre Raymond Kabbaz
7:30 PM  
Mar 6, 2015  
San Jose, CA USA Cafe Stritch
7:00PM  
Mar 5, 2015 Venue Info
Santa Cruz, CA USA Moe's Alley
8:00PM  
Mar 3, 2015 Venue Info
Arcata, CA USA Arcata Playhouse
8:00PM  
Mar 1, 2015 Venue Info
Mercer Island, WA USA Stroum JCC
7 PM  
Feb 28, 2015 Venue Info
Vancouver, BC CANADA Red Room Ultrabar
8:00PM  
Feb 28, 2015 Venue Info
Vancouver, BC CANADA Red Room Ultrabar
8:00PM  
Feb 27, 2015 Venue Info
St. Albert, AB Canada The Arden Theatre
7:30 PM  
2014
Aug 9, 2014  
Ciudad Juarez, CHI MEXICO Centro Cultural Paso del Norte
8:00PM  
Aug 8, 2014  
Chihuahua, CHI MEXICO Plaza Del Angel
8:00PM  
2013
May 23, 2013 El Spiritu del Sur  
Huesca, SPAIN
 
2010
Apr 8, 2010 Chutzpah Festival  
Vancouver, BC CANADA
 
Apr 6, 2010  
Seattle, WA USA Triple Door
7:30  
Apr 3, 2010  
Homer, AK USA Bunnell Street Gallery
 
Apr 2, 2010  
Homer, AK USA Bunnell Street Gallery
 
Apr 1, 2010  
Seldovia, AK USA Seldovia Arts Council
 
Mar 29, 2010  
Healy, AK USA Tri-Valley School
 
Mar 27, 2010  
Fairbanks, AK USA Fairbanks Concert Association
 
Mar 26, 2010  
Fairbanks, AK USA Fairbanks Concert Association
 
Mar 24, 2010  
Kodiak, AK USA Kodiak Arts Council
7:00  
Mar 23, 2010  
Kodiak, AK USA Kodiak Arts Council
 
Mar 21, 2010  
San Rafael, CA USA Kanbar Center for the Arts
 
Mar 20, 2010  
Santa Cruz, CA USA Kuumbwa Jazz Center
 
Mar 19, 2010  
Tucson, AZ USA Berger Performing Arts Center
 
2009
Oct 29, 2009  
Copenhagen, DENMARK WOMEX SHOWCASE
 
Sep 19, 2009  
Barcelona, SPAIN Mercat Vic
 
Jan 25, 2009  
Mahwah, NJ USA Ramapo College- Berrie Center
 
Jan 24, 2009  
Atlanta, GA USA Rialto Center
 
Jan 23, 2009  
Arden, DE USA Arden Gild Hall
 
Jan 22, 2009  
Columbus, OH USA Fawcett Center
 
Jan 20, 2009  
Marquette, MI USA Northern Michigan University
 
Jan 18, 2009  
North Vancouver, BC CANADA Capilano College
 
Jan 17, 2009  
Banff, AB CANADA Banff Center for the Performing Arts
 
Jan 16, 2009  
St Alberts, AB CANADA Arden Theatre
 
Jan 14, 2009  
San Francisco, CA USA Yoshi's
 
Jan 12, 2009  
New York, NY USA Highline Ballroom
 
2008
Dec 17, 2008  
Washington, DC USA La Maison Francais - French Embassy
 
2007
Aug 30, 2007  
Los Angeles, CA USA Levitt Pavilion MacArthur Park
 
Aug 29, 2007  
Santa Monica, CA USA TempleBar
 
Aug 28, 2007 Cascade Festival  
Bend, OR USA
 
Aug 28, 2007 Cascade Festival  
Bend, OR USA
1:30  
Aug 26, 2007  
Lansing, WV USA Mountain Stage - live radio
 
Aug 25, 2007  
Danbury, CT USA Danbury Green
7:30  
Aug 24, 2007  
East Meredith, NY USA West Kortright Center
 
Aug 20, 2007  
New York, NY USA Lincoln Center Outdoors
8:00  
Aug 19, 2007 Philadelphia Folk Festival  
Schwenksville, PA USA
 
Aug 18, 2007 Philadelphia Folk Festival  
Schwenksville, PA USA
 
Aug 16, 2007  
Santa Cruz, CA USA Moe's Alley
8:30  
Aug 12, 2007  
Foster City, CA USA Peninsula JCC
6:00  
Aug 11, 2007  
San Rafael, CA USA Osher Marin JCC
7:00  
Aug 10, 2007 San Jose Jazz Festival  
San Jose, CA USA
 
Jul 13, 2007 World Music Festival  
Tel Aviv, ISRAEL
 
Jun 13, 2007 International Festival of Arts & ideas  
New Haven, CT USA
 
2006
Oct 7, 2006  
Mahwah, NJ USA Sharp Theater, Ramapo College
 
Sep 28, 2006  
New York, NY USA Symphony Space
 
Sep 24, 2006 Globalquerque  
Albuquerque, NM USA National Hispanic Cultural Center
 
Jul 2, 2006 Cityfolk Festival  
Dayton, OH USA Riverscape Metro Park NCR Family Stage
 
Jun 29, 2006  
Chicago, IL USA Hothouse
 
Jun 27, 2006 Ann Arbor Summer Festival @ PJs  
Ann Arbor, MI USA
 
Jun 24, 2006  
Colorado Springs, CO USA Pikes Peak Library
 
Jun 23, 2006  
Pasadena, CA USA Caltech, Beckman Mall
 
Jun 22, 2006  
San Francisco, CA USA Great American Music Hall
 
Jun 21, 2006  
Santa Cruz, CA USA Moe's Alley
 
Feb 4, 2006  
Batavia, IL USA Ramsey Auditorium, Fermilab Series
 
Feb 3, 2006  
Cedar Rapids, IA USA Legion Arts
 
Feb 2, 2006  
Jefferson City, MO USA Lincoln University
 
Feb 1, 2006  
Chicago, IL USA Symphony Center Presents
 
Jan 29, 2006  
San Rafael, CA USA Osher Marin Jewish Community Center
 
Jan 28, 2006  
Stanford, CA USA Memorial Auditorium, Stanford University
 
Jan 27, 2006  
Napa, CA USA Napa Valley Opera House
 
Jan 26, 2006  
Los Angeles, CA USA Royce Hall, UCLA
 
Jan 21, 2006  
Toronto, ON CANADA George Weston Recital Hall
 
Jan 20, 2006  
Washington, DC USA Ripley Center - Smithsonian
 
2005
Apr 23, 2005  
Manchester, NH USA Saint Anselm College
 
Apr 22, 2005  
Portland, ME USA Center for Cultural Exchange
 
Apr 21, 2005  
Castleton, VT USA Castleton State College-Fine Arts Center
 
Apr 20, 2005  
Somerville, MA USA Johnny Ds
 
Apr 17, 2005  
Columbus, OH USA Fawcett Center Auditorium
 
Apr 16, 2005  
Nelsonville, OH USA Stuarts Opera House
 
Apr 15, 2005  
Erie, PA USA Mercyhurst College
 
Apr 13, 2005  
Garden City, NY USA Nassu Community College
 
Apr 12, 2005  
New York, NY USA Satalla
 
Apr 10, 2005  
Memphis, TN USA Buckman Center
 
Apr 9, 2005  
Memphis, TN USA Buckman Center
 
Apr 8, 2005  
Louisville, KY USA Kentucky Center for the Arts
 
Feb 19, 2005  
Hilo, HI USA University of Hawaii
 
Feb 18, 2005  
Kamuela, HI USA Kalihu Theatre
 
Feb 17, 2005  
Kahului, HI USA Maui Arts & Cultural Center
 
Feb 15, 2005  
Laie, HI USA Brigham Young University - Hawaii
 
Feb 12, 2005  
Pearl City, HI USA Leeward Community College
 
Feb 10, 2005  
Sheboygan, WI USA Kohler Arts Center
 
Feb 9, 2005  
Sheboygan, WI USA Kohler Arts Center
 
Feb 8, 2005  
Sheboygan, WI USA Kohler Arts Center
 
2004
Sep 6, 2004 Ashkenaz Festival 2004  
Toronto, ON CANADA
 
Jul 25, 2004  
New York, NY USA Joe's Pub
 
Jul 24, 2004  
Huntington, NY USA Chapin Rainbow Stage-Heckscher Park
 
Jul 23, 2004  
Brooklyn, NY USA Prospect Park Bandshell
 
Jul 22, 2004  
Santa Monica, CA USA Santa Monica Pier
 
Jul 21, 2004  
Redwood City, CA USA Little Fox Theater
 
Jul 20, 2004  
Santa Cruz, CA USA Kuumbwa Jazz Center
 
Jul 17, 2004 California World Music Festival  
Grass Valley, CA USA
 
Jul 16, 2004  
Berkeley, CA USA Ashkenaz
 
Jul 15, 2004  
San Francisco, CA USA SF Jazz Festival
 
Jul 14, 2004  
Reno, NV USA Wingfield Park
 
Jul 13, 2004  
Milwaukee, WI USA Marcus Center for Performing Arts
 
Jul 11, 2004  
London, ON USA Sunfest
 
Jul 10, 2004 Chicago Folk & Roots Festival  
Chicago, IL USA Welles Park
 
Jul 8, 2004  
Chicago, IL USA Spirit of the Music Gardens
 
Jul 7, 2004  
Philadelphia, PA USA Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts-Perelman Theatre
 

Videos










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Press

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
Brilliant as violinists and beguiling as vocalists, the brothers have managed to re-cast age-old Jewish and gypsy musical traditions in contemporary terms. Making no apologies for its amplified fiddles and plugged-in guitars, Les Yeux Noirs (which translates to “Black Eyes”) draws equally on the past and the present. Ancient scales resurface in snappy pop-song formats; time-honored songs from East European shtetls re-emerge in peppy, populist settings… To hear this band reworking traditional dance music and Yiddish lullabies is to behold a remarkably deft aesthetic transformation.


TUSCON WEEKLY
It would have been difficult to imagine a more joyous musical journey.

Testimonials

“Thanks for checking in – everything was fantastic, and the gentlemen of Les Yeux Noirs are great to work with.  They gave a great lec/dem to a room full of college students, leading the most engaged discussion I’ve ever seen those students have with a visiting artist.  The show was wonderful, and the audience appreciative.  I really enjoyed the piece that looped in the recording of Eric and Olivier’s grandmother singing.

It seemed like the band enjoyed their time in Louisville (they even snuck in a trip to an accordion shop).   Thanks for bringing us another great group. ”

— Nick Covault, Programming Manager – Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts – Louisville, KY, USA


“The show was great! The artists were very friendly and a blast to work with. The audience reaction was excellent as well…a lot of hooting and dancing as well as a great response post-show with folks sticking around and chatting with the brothers.

It was a pleasure working with them! ”

      — Tim Schoen, Production Manager – Mayne Stage – Chicago, IL, USA


“The show was great as in the past. But there was plenty of new material. The sibling rivalry has mellowed a bit, but the introduction on family stories and personal point of view especially by Eric were appreciated by old and new audience members.

We were one of the first locations they played in the US and CSPS (especially the neighborhood) has changed a lot even since their last visit in 2007.

We had a good time, although only half a dozen of us were dancing in the aisles.”

      — Mel Andringa, Producing Director – Legion Arts – Cedar Rapids, IA, USA

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