Gypsy toned guitarist Stephane Wrembel continues his devotion to the legacy of Django Reinhardt’s music in a pair of releases. The first is his sixth edition of The Django Experiment withhis team of Thor Jensen/g, Ari Folman Cohen/b, Nick Anderson/dr, Daisy Castro/vi and Nick Driscoll/reeds. The album includes two takes of Reinhardt’s “Naguine”, one a relaxed solo excursion and the second a cozy small group take. On soprano sax, Driscoll swings to Wrembel’s electric strings on “Dream of You” and teams with Castro on a jaunty “What Is This Thing Called Love”. Anderson gives a nifty intro to the hot’cha “Impromptu” and his snare leads into a dirge-like “St. James Infirmary”. Wrembel himself is magisterial modern sounding on “Laguna Laita’ and swinging to the two step of “Dream of You”. The caravan continues!
There is also a 60 page book that includes transcriptions by Wrembel of six improvisations, and variations of these improvisations, some solo improvisations, and then versions of songs ranging from the more obscure “Naguine” and “Echoes of Spain” to the classics “Belleville” and “Nuages”. The notes are to be considered as servants, not masters, as Wrembel explains “the goal is not to establish an ultimate truth… but to propose a solid base for the musician.” The music and the vision are both served well here, and will be a feast for any guitar fan and student.