Gypsy Funk Squad…

Jack "Giacomo" Lowry is a musician who works with developing innovations in world fusion music through a confluence of musical influences and chi energy.  Being a percussionist from a young age, Jack developed a keen ear for rhythm.  A guitarist in his youth, Jack has become proficient in Oud (ood) and Cumbus (joom-bush), which he plays along with a mini 12-string guitar, as well as his voice in the band Gypsy Funk Squad.  Jack feels it is a form of prayer when he is able to connect and share his musical chi with the people of this beautiful realm.

Ohannes was born in Istanbul, Turkey and lived there until the age of seventeen. After high school, he came USA to study Engineering. He has a MS in Electrical Engineering from NJIT. He has always been into music, rhythm and dancing. He got his first doumbek when he was around 10 years old and learned to play then very popular song Mastika. He became more serious about music when he started taking some oud lessons from John Vartan in late 90s. John Vartan gave him the opportunity to sit in with his band as second percussionist or as the bass player. And that's how he got into playing on stage. He has also danced for 6 years with the Antranig Dance Ensemble, an Armenian dance troupe. Being born in Turkey and being of Armenian decent, he is very familiar with Armenian and Turkish repertoire and rhythms. He is also familiar with Arabic, Greek and Jewish songs. He has also been playing over 20 years at the African Drum and Dance Circle in Central Park. He loves playing and organizing drum circles, and admins a Facebook Group called North Jersey Drum Circles . His nick name at drum circles is the Cowbell Boy as he loves to play the cowbell. Visit his Facebook Fan Page to find out about his gigs and drum circle activities. You can also connect with him on Facebook.

Rodney originally brought cohesion to the music with the upright bass helping to establish the rhythm and flood the lower end of the sound spectrum, and henceforwardly, he provides the cajón-ic and doum-bastic percussive rhythms as well as melodic support with the alluring & obnoxious sexyphone, and sweet innocence of the flute.

Koshek Swaminathan is an artist and writer who loves music and has been in the music business for many years and on many sides. He began learning about the business side as publicity assistant at Capital Records and doing radio and retail promotions at EMI. He's been a promoter of bands, producer of events, curator of sound art, copywriter for record companies - just to name a few. Koshek's sound art projects have been displayed in many galleries including the famous Hermitage Museum in Russia. Koshek is very grateful to have had many of the best teachers of music and of life. A small list would not do justice. Some of his teachers include Bruce Wacker who taught him guitar, Mickey Hart who taught him rhythm, Allen Ginsberg who taught him poetry, Bill Burroughs who showed him how to do easy, Maestro Iliaraja who taught him about Indian music composition, and David Peel who taught him how to keep moving and never stop doing music. Koshek also played in many bands of varied genres on both the eastern and western coasts of the United States. These genres include rock n roll, folk rock, bluegrass, electronic, sonic art, ambient, experimental dance, prog rock, punk, new new wave, country and western, East Indian - and now with Gypsy Funk Squad - middle eastern music. Koshek first met Ohannes in May of 2018 at the COGS Steamfest Festival. They quickly became friends and Ohannes introduced him to the rest of the band and they have all been playing music together ever since.

Guest Artists

Former Members