Gypsy guitarists like Biréli Lagrène grow up learning Django Reinhardt's solos the way Americans cut their teeth on "Louie, Louie" or "Stairway to Heaven." Perhaps that's why Gypsy Project, Lagrène's first recording of acoustic, Hot Club-style jazz since his debut as a teenage guitar prodigy in the early 1980s, feels like a homecoming. Lagrène's band may replicate the three guitars, bass, and violin lineup of the original Hot Club quintet, but this is no mere exercise in nostalgia. Lagrène and violinist Florin Niculescu imbue standards like "Embraceable You" and "Lime House Blues" with a blend of jazzy sophistication and bittersweet romanticism that is undeniably Gypsy in character. It's as if they are wrapping the hard lessons learned in centuries of difficult wandering within bonbons like Charles Trenet's "La Mer." The music on Gypsy Project has a certain charm, but when Lagrène accents the melody with an unexpected string bend or rhythmic flourish, he reveals surprisingly complex emotions lying just beneath the surface. --Michael Simmons
Album Description
Much to the delight of his long-time fans, Bireli Lagrene returned to the Django-influenced sound in 2000, first as a sideman on Didier Lockwood's "Tribute to Stephané Grappelli" and later at the four day Django Festival at the Birdland jazz club in New York City. "Gypsy Project" is Bireli's first full-length album of Gypsy music in almost 20 years. With a healthy dose of Django music, it also features a scintillating collection of other Gypsy-Swing favorites. With an all-string quintet reminiscent of Django's groups of the late 1940's, and a special guest appearance by Richard Galliano, this record is sure to amaze! Bireli Lagrene - Guitar Diego Imbert - Bass Holzmano Lagrene - Guitar Florin Niculescu - Violin Hono Wintersetin - Guitar Special Guest - Richard Galliano (Accordion on "Daphne")
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