You would think that after hearing so many tributes to Django Reinhardt that my ears would get tired of them. You’d think so, but it’s like saying that you’ve heard enough Mozart; just keep it coming!
Guitarist Simba Baumgartner, great grandson of the legendary guitarist, is accompanied by The Django Experiment band of Stephane Wrembel/g, Thor Jensen/g, Nick Driscoll/sax-cl, Ari Foman-Cohen/b and Nick Anderson/dr for a rousing campfire collection of gyspy tunes in the Hot Club of France mode.
There are two versions of the eternal “Nuages,” one with Driscoll on a Sidney Bechet-inspired soprano sax with a mile wide vibrato, and the other with soft nimbus strings floating gracefully. There’s lots of “hot-cha” two steppers like “All Of Me” and the crispy “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love” that features fascinating rhythms and joyful solos. Baumbartner is sweet and lithe on an “Improvisation…” and bounces on “Blues Clair” while relaxing at the park with Driscoll’s clarinet on a reflective “September Song.” Wonderful sounds and stylings; there’s something to be said of the power of the blood.