The trailer for Gypsy Caravan is making the rounds at New York indie theaters. The documentary about a New York gypsy music festival makes explicit the roma-flamenco-India connection, and the festival invited what a troupe of Rajasthani musicians. Captain Jack Sparrow has a cameo.

Founded in 1995 (originally named ‘Musafir’), [Maharaja] gathers musicians, poets and shamans who in Rajasthan would not play together, but here create an exciting fusion of North Indian folk, classical, Arabic, sufi trance and crossover styles that create an eclectic aesthetic. On the first Gypsy Caravan tour, they discovered the richness of flamenco and have since begun a side project, Maharaja Flamenca, which performs on this tour with Antonio El Pipa. [Link]

This rich feature documentary celebrates the luscious music of top international Gypsy performers and interweaves stirring real life tales of their home life and social background. Shot by documentary icon Albert Maysles, the film takes place on tour… as well as on location in Spain, Macedonia, Romania and India. Directed by Jasmine Dellal whose recent feature, American Gypsy, won international acclaim for its portrait of an American Romani family battling a decade of drama. [Link]

With Macedonian diva Esma Redzepova, traditional Indian troupe Maharaja, Romanian groups Fanfare Ciocarlia and Taraf de Haïdouks and the Antonio El Pipa Flamenco Ensemble. [Link]

About filmmaker Jasmine Dellal:

Jasmine Dellal was raised in England, but also spent much of her childhood with her grandmother in India. She received her Bachelors degree in… French and Spanish language & literature… from… Oxford University. In 1993, Dellal completed a Master’s degree in Journalism at the University of California at Berkeley. [Link]