Time: 43:51
Size: 102.4 MB
Styles: Swing, Gypsy jazz
Year: 2010
Art: Front
[3:33] 1. Songe D'Automne
[3:45] 2. Exactly Like You
[3:41] 3. La Gitane
[5:23] 4. Someone To Watch Over Me
[4:15] 5. Tchavolo Swing
[5:00] 6. It's The Bluest Kind Of Blues - Nuages
[6:48] 7. Nature Boy
[2:57] 8. You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To
[2:17] 9. Chez Jacquet
[3:39] 10. Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams
[2:29] 11. While We're Young
The Hot Club of Philadelphia,taking their cue from the European-style Jazz pioneered by Django Reinhardt, and melding it with their own style. Their creative takes on classic tunes, easy-going swinging sound and solid arrangements makes for quite a listenable album. The Hot Club of Philadelphia was founded in 2001 by guitarist Barry Wahrhaftig and violinist Mark Campiglia. Joining them are acoustic bassist Jim Stager and rhythm guitarist Barry Wahrhaftig, as well as plenty of special guests, including the legendary Howard Alden on seven string guitar. This Gypsy Jazz outfit is dedicated to "playing and preserving the music of Django Reinhardt while adding their own style in the process." One is immediately struck by the easy, but deep swing that comes out of Bob Butryn's clarinet (he' also a swing dancer!) on the medium-tempo first track, "Song d'Automme." One can't help but be taken by the way these players make so much outof so little. Two Rhythm guitars and a bass keep thetime and groove with some simple but well craftedchanges in a minor key, as the improvisers outlinethem with the most essential notes, while making beautiful and singable melodies for the listener to relate to at all times. Throughout the CD, new players come and go, such as Accordion player John Matulis for the track "La Gitane," giving it a unique texture. This song is in a triple meter, as the bassist plays on one and the guitars on two and three, giving it a waltz vibe. I can easily visualize a dance floor in France with numerous couples brimming with life. Barry Wahrhaftig shows that he is no Django clone on this track. His right hand has a completely different approach.
Undoubtedly one of the big highlights of this disc is "Someone to Watch Over Me," sung by Denise King. She infuses plenty of personal experience in her rendering, as the song builds gradually. It begins as a duet, with the beautiful solo guitar work of Howard Alden, before the bass joins, and then the lead guitar of Wahrhaftig." Nuages" is another nice interpretation, featuring vocalist Phyllis Chapell. Wahrhaftig takes a particularly memorable guitar solo on this track, departing from the classic gypsy vocabulary with some very unique lines, and plenty of emotion. The listener wil be happy to hear Bob Butryn return for a gorgeous clarinet solo. "Nature Boy" will also be a pleasant surprise to the listener with its Latin vibe, complete with flute, conga, and Flamenco guitar from Carlos Rubio. Wahrhaftig trades solos with Rubio and it a treat to hear two different styles playing together on the same song. Denise King joins the group for the head out.
And then another surprise - Electric guita rand horns! For the penultimate tune, "Wrap YourTroubles in Dreams," the band renders it with a classic swing with arranged parts for trombone, trumpet and clarinet, and a swinging drum groove with the hi-hat on two and four behind Denise King's vocals. We go from the Hot Club to Preservation Hall, and it is a nice departure before returning for the closer, "While We're Young." The Hot Club of Philadelphia may be dedicated to playing the music of Django Reinhardt, but as advertised, they add their own voices and mentalities into the mix, and often infuse Latin and more traditional swing styles into the mix. All of the members have impeccable chops and unwavering musicality. If you're in the Philadelphia area, be sure to seek them out.
Joe Ellis, guitar; Bob Butryn, clarinet;Jim Stager, bass; Barry Wahrhaftig, guitar; JoeArnold, violin; John Matulis, accordion, Howard Alden, guitar; Denise King, vocals; Alex Siniavski, guitar; Mark Campiglia, violin; Phyllis Chapell, vocals; Rich Yescalis, guitar; Carlos Rubio, flamenco guitar; Bob Butryn, flute; George Manney, conga; Stan Slotter, trumpet; Dave Cianci, trombone By Herbie Y. Gamura.
Undoubtedly one of the big highlights of this disc is "Someone to Watch Over Me," sung by Denise King. She infuses plenty of personal experience in her rendering, as the song builds gradually. It begins as a duet, with the beautiful solo guitar work of Howard Alden, before the bass joins, and then the lead guitar of Wahrhaftig." Nuages" is another nice interpretation, featuring vocalist Phyllis Chapell. Wahrhaftig takes a particularly memorable guitar solo on this track, departing from the classic gypsy vocabulary with some very unique lines, and plenty of emotion. The listener wil be happy to hear Bob Butryn return for a gorgeous clarinet solo. "Nature Boy" will also be a pleasant surprise to the listener with its Latin vibe, complete with flute, conga, and Flamenco guitar from Carlos Rubio. Wahrhaftig trades solos with Rubio and it a treat to hear two different styles playing together on the same song. Denise King joins the group for the head out.
And then another surprise - Electric guita rand horns! For the penultimate tune, "Wrap YourTroubles in Dreams," the band renders it with a classic swing with arranged parts for trombone, trumpet and clarinet, and a swinging drum groove with the hi-hat on two and four behind Denise King's vocals. We go from the Hot Club to Preservation Hall, and it is a nice departure before returning for the closer, "While We're Young." The Hot Club of Philadelphia may be dedicated to playing the music of Django Reinhardt, but as advertised, they add their own voices and mentalities into the mix, and often infuse Latin and more traditional swing styles into the mix. All of the members have impeccable chops and unwavering musicality. If you're in the Philadelphia area, be sure to seek them out.
Joe Ellis, guitar; Bob Butryn, clarinet;Jim Stager, bass; Barry Wahrhaftig, guitar; JoeArnold, violin; John Matulis, accordion, Howard Alden, guitar; Denise King, vocals; Alex Siniavski, guitar; Mark Campiglia, violin; Phyllis Chapell, vocals; Rich Yescalis, guitar; Carlos Rubio, flamenco guitar; Bob Butryn, flute; George Manney, conga; Stan Slotter, trumpet; Dave Cianci, trombone By Herbie Y. Gamura.
Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams