You’ve never heard “Bohemian Rhapsody” like this: A quick and bouncy work that elicits instant smiles thanks to the spirit of Django and those who followed in his footsteps (release date: July 14), now re-envisioned by the “gypsy jazz/swing superband” Hot Pants de France from southern California. Formed by Sam Kaufmann (former session guitarist for... Continue Reading →
Throw out what you thought you knew about the ukulele. Yes, it can be quaint, charming, a wanna-be, higher-register guitar in miniature. Enter Stephen Godsall, who has set out to play the uke to its fullest potential, funkifying it, making it swing like gypsy jazz, riffing out in hearty solos. His latest work, Ukulele Forms... Continue Reading →
Releasing December 17, the new CD "Castelfidardo" by jazz accordionist Jonny Kerry is more than what you think, no matter what you’ve heard from the instrument thus far. (The title refers to the Italian town where accordions are famously crafted.) In Kerry’s capable and loving hands, the accordion sings with joy for life whether paired... Continue Reading →
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 →
Debbie Burke - jazz author 
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