Recent Press Reviews:

"This five-piece band generate a passionate fusion of folk music traditions from around the world, exploring new juxtapositions and old links between Eastern European Romany fiddle-playing and Argentinian tango, with detours through Appalachian bluegrass, Andean pan-pipes, calypso, klezmer and bebop. These excursions calm the otherwise relentlessly hot-blooded mood, but it is the virtuoso solo playing - of composer/violinist Adam Summerhayes particularly in these infernal foot-stompers that impresses most: hairtrigger changes of time signatures, melodic lines that spiral from funereal mournfulness into reeling intoxication. They clearly love playing together, relishing the delight that their virtuosity produced in the audience. Composer/pianist Dave Gordon has a spicy musical wit, and cellist Christ Grist and bassist Jonny Gee spar deftly around the soloists, with Eddie Hession's multi-talented accordion provided a reliable bedrock. It's immensely reassuring that bands playing music such as this are around and capable of attracting capacity crowds, and it's certain that Zum will be welcome again whenever their caravan tangos into town."

BBC on Leicester Phoenix Arts Centre performance

"This was a highly individual fusion of gypsy and jazz. Added to a small selection of "straight" Piazzolla and other dances were a number of traditional tunes arranged by Summerhayes and pianist David Gordon. A further level of abstraction brought original, dance-inspired compositions - among them a boldly bitonal arrangement of a Bosnian wedding song, a cheeky little tango by Rosendo Mendizabal and Summerhayes' comic theatrical Mosquito Splat, in which bassist Jonny Gee is amusingly distracted by a nuisance insect before it meets its death on his instrument....rendered with unbuttoned passion and brilliance, with virtuoso performances especially from Summerhayes, Gordon and accordionist Eddie Hession."

The Strad on South Bank performance

"When I signed up to review Zum, I did not know quite what to expect, but I must admit this was one of the finest and funniest concerts I have been to in years. An electric mix of European gypsy music and Argentinean tango, this band proves there really is no barrier to good music when it comes to diverse genres.

Completely compelling and always original, Zum produced a performance full of laughter and character, which could not fail to capture the audiences' imagination.
Throw in a host of witty repertoires between songs and you start to realise there is more to this five-piece band than its simple title. And, proof of their startling ability - if my words were not enough - lay in their three encores after actually playing dead at the end of their last song.

If you get a chance to see this band, forget whatever other plans you have and get yourself out for an evening - I guarantee you will not be disappointed."

Duncan Bradley - Bury Free Press

"Zum have grabbed a repertoire from styles that have been getting noticed lately. on to the perennially fascinating gypsy music of Eastern Europe they have grafted the tangos of Argentina, producing an evening of lively, unpredictable music, full of feats of ensemble, virtuosity and humour.

Tiverton Spring Festival has always managed to root out something 'different' each year but ZUM really are different. They are a crazy line-up of Palm Court Trio + accordion + double bass, yet not just a 5-piece group, more a bundle of stars."

John Byrt - The Gazette

"Exciting, brilliant and impassioned playing. All five musicinas play so brilliantly, with dexterity, musicianship, gypsy, jazz style as well as beautiful or sonorous tone as required, it is not possible to separate them - it is one fantastic and effectively electric "whole". The arrangements and compositions are extremely clever, the humorous introductions and not only the great rapport with each other, but also with their audience, made this an altogether most exciting and awe-inspiring evening"

Margaret Mills - The Gazette