THE GYPSY SPIRIT LIVES…The Django Festival Allstars: Attitude Manouche

For some strange reason, while revivals of Traditional Jazz like New Orleans or Chicago can be stilted or dated, the sounds of Django Reinhardt’s Hot Club is still as fresh as an early morning baguette. This team of Samson Schmitt/g, Pierre Blanchard/vi, Ludovic Beir/acc, Philippe Cuillerier/g-voc and Antonio Licusati/b mix vintage sounds and strings from Django’s gypsy swing, but with mostly original material. The one cover is a richly textured take of John Williams’ theme from “Schindler’s List,” while the rest of the time, the band does two step sompers like the title track and the accordion driven “Late Train.” Cuillerier’s vocals give extra bohemia to the chanson “Viens Chez Django” while Blanchard’s violin swoons on the elegant “Lovely Wife.” Wonderfully frantic beats serve as red meat for the soloists on “Laugh with Charlie” and the peppy “Tsigane Fantasy,” making the disc a bon mot!

www.djangofestivalallstars.com

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