Honoring Django’s spirit of unbridled joy that bubbles with optimism, the new CD “Café Dynamite” from Filippo Dall’Asta and Giulio Romano Malaisi [of the band Gypsy Dynamite, which has several iterations: duo, trio, quartet and quintet] is a worthy addition to the genre. While “Parisian Avenue” is smartly infused with shades of mystery in its... Continue Reading →
Versatile, musically immersed and bursting with a backlog of material yet to be released, tenor sax player Peter Sparacino says it’s because he came late to the party. His incredibly productive catch-up scheme has him in two ensembles: one, called Anouman, as co-leader (creating some killer, strong-spirited gypsy jazz) and the other called Orkestra Eustoria... Continue Reading →
Full of motion and skilled finger work, Harry Edwards’ jaunty gypsy jazz is irresistibly fun. The Hobart (Tasmania, Australia)-based guitarist has a swinging trio-turned-quartet (earlier trio is pictured) that continues to thrill with original tunes. Even slower tunes like “From Marjorie” add the sweet strum between measures while providing unusual chord changes to keep it... Continue Reading →
Guitarist Ken Karsh is known to sometimes play a stunted-looking instrument that is tuned a fourth up from the traditional guitar, and that gives it a bright, magical sound: the guitalele. Whatever is in his hands, though, Ken makes it sing. The consummate guitar player, he is also versatile on the ukulele and mandolin; received... Continue Reading →
With its characteristic jaunty, Parisian feel, the spirit of gypsy jazz as made popular by Django Reinhardt lives on thanks to contemporary artists around the globe. In California, there’s one student of the art form who has made this his passion. Student has become teacher and a fully-credentialed gypsy jazz ambassador. Don Price’s band is... Continue Reading →
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