Possibly the most exciting thing about this collection of concert material from the 14th annual Django Reinhardt New York Festival (and there’s LOTS to be excited about here) is that very few of the songs presented here were actually performed, written or associated with the famed Belgian Gypsy guitarist. Oh, sure, you’ve got the obligatory “Nuages,” but even that is put in new wine skins, as Anat Cohen’s soprano brings a whole new dimension to the classic piece. Featured prominently, and justifiably so, is Dorado Schmitt/g-vio and his family of Samson, Amati and Bronson all on guitars, as well as Ludovic Beier/acc, Pierre Blanchard/vio, Francko Mehrstein/g, Francko Mehrstein/g Xavier Nik/qb and Jisoo Ok/cello. SO obviously, the stage gets a bit crowded at times, or the guys jump on and off at random, but that’s what makes the music so much fun!
Hot jazz tunes like “Swing Gitan” and “Bossa Dorado” will get you on your feet in no time, while the wildly exotic “Balkanic Dance” will make your head spin. “Camping Car” starts off like a night in Tunisia, and then evokes hints of an Ellingtonian caravan, making sense at every otherworldly chord. Romance is always in the air, with a gorgeously genteel “Out of Nowhere” and a swaying “For Pierre.” Guitar violin and accordion solos are flying everywhere, with “Melissa” having some hot moments provided by Samson, Blanchard and Beier. It’s encouraging to see that Reinhardt’s music has become an actual style in itself, and not just an assemblage of songs. From a noun to a verb!
Three’s A Crowd Records
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