Modern Masters of Gypsy Jazz: Hot Club of San Francisco’s Fresh Take on a Classic Sound
By Jessica Fox for Contemporary Fusion Reviews
For more than thirty-five years, the Hot Club of San Francisco has been experimenting with the musical tradition of Django Reinhardt and developing their own style of Gypsy Jazz. They are celebrated over the USA and abroad for their fusion blend of American jazz and European based Romani music, or Gypsy folk songs. As soon as I hear the first strains of their tunned called “Systeme D,” I too join the rest of the world in being totally captivated. Their sound is quite unique and swings like a grandfather-clock’s pendulum. It’s a steady, seasoned sound, a historic sound, and yet it seizes the ‘now’ with each arrangement. They have modernized them music. Their album is called Original Gadjo. The word ‘gadjo’ refers to men who are not ethnic Romani, but outsiders living near that community. These American musicians were not born into the Django style or culture, but they have certainly captured the essence of this music. As soon as Evan “Zeppo” Price breaks into his violin solo on the premiere tune, we time-travel to a place of gypsy joy and happiness. Paul “Pazzo” Mehling adds his banjo brilliance, and Williams’ solos on double bass. I became totally enraptured by their song and the master musicians playing it.The guitars strum the rhythm, shuffling along, to inspire a tap of the toes. The band continues with “Dainty: Boop that Snoot” supporting the same joyful mood. Mehling’s wonderful antics on guitar are clever and catchy. Price follows on violin, drawing me into the music with whirlpool smoothness. Then Williams steps forward to tell his big, bass story. His fingers pull and pluck, dancing across the strings like ten well-trained ballerinas. Instead of pulling from the standard Django Reinhardt repertoire, all of this music is original, composed by the Hot Club of San Francisco ensemble. Jordan Samuels & Nelsen Hutchison play rhythm guitars in a style known as le pompe, that gives the pulse to these arrangements. They offer relentless swing. The Hot Club of San Francisco are definitely O.G.s of this style. They carry the historic value of a gypsy genre from the 1930s into the modern world, like an uncovered treasure. Their music is not only entertaining and uplifting, but their music is valuable. It will be publicly available on September 13, 2024 here: www.hotclubsf.com/cds
Hot Club of San Francisco - Original Gadjo
O's Notes: The Hot Club of San Francisco is a longstanding ensemble that has gone a long way towards maintaining the spirit and music of Django Reinhardt. The current configuration is a quintet featuring Paul “Pazzo” Mehling (g, banjo, vocal), Evan Zeppo Price (violin), Dexter Williams (b, tb), Jordan Samuels (g), and Nelson Hutchison (g). They are employing a couple of guest artists as well to add color and depth. “Manic Swing”, “I’ll Call You Back”, and “Dainty: Boop That Snoot” are a few of the best in a 14-song set. If you liked the music of guitarist Django Reinhardt and violinist Stephane Grappelli, circa 1930s, Original Gadjo is a great modern take!
D. Oscar Groomes
O's Place Jazz Magazine
http://www.OsPlaceJazz.com