Guitarist Stephane Wrembel hasn’t run out of fresh ideas for interpreting Django Reinhardt’s sound and mood after four trips to the Hot Club Laboratory. He’s joined by Thor Jensen/g, Ari Folman/, Nick Anderson/dr, Nick Driscoll/reeds and one off guitarist Simba Baumbartner for a mix of gypsy swing and ebullient campfire etudes.
Wrembel’s strums are in perfect two step swing along with Driscoll’s clarinet for “Topsy” and the peppy “I’ll See You In My Dreams” while a richly palpable “Nuages” includes a romantic bass clarinet, and a clever read of “Afro Blue” has Driscoll’s passionate soprano sax teamed with Anderson’s pulsating drums. Wrembel’s touch on the strings is clean and clear, relaxed on “Ou Es-to Mon Amour” and frivolously frantic for a “Petriarka that is teamed with Baumbartner. Easy strides are bohemian of “Valse Pour” and hot’cha for “All Of Me.” A tip of the beret.