Symphonic Django (2008)
2007 concert video in Paris featuring Stochelo Rosenberg, Florin Nicolescu, Jon Larsen, Per Einar Watle, Svein Aarbostad, The Kristiansand Symphonic Orchestra/Peter Sebastian Szilvay, Arrangements by Per Ekdahl
Director: Lars Hellebust
Studio: Hot Club of Norway/Euforia 100028 [2/23/10] [Distr. by Naxos]
Video: 1.77:1 for 16:9 color
Audio: English DTS & DD 5.1, PCM Stereo
Extras: Antonietto on Django, Stochelo Rosenberg interview, Florin Nicolescu interview
Time: 58 minutes
Rating: *****
[TrackList below]
This was the world premiere of a concert celebrating 2010 as the 100th Anniversary of the birth of legendary Gypsy Jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt. (Before the end of this year we will be publishing a major roundup feature of dozens of Django and Gypsy Jazz CDs.)
This fantastic concert was the first time Django’s own tunes had been orchestrated and performed by a hand-picked Gypsy Jazz group plus a full symphony orchestra. It was filmed in HD by a Norwegian Oscar-winning director, and though rather short is packed with some very exciting performances that should have wider appeal than just to Django aficionados.
When he was just 18 gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt lost the use of two fingers in a devastating fire in his trailer. They would have ended most musician’s careers, but was just the beginning for Django. He learned to play better with only three fingers on his left hand than other guitarists with all their fingers. His musical legacy has grown from his early recordings with the Hot Club of Paris to being honored around the world with festivals and many players continuing his unique heritage.
Stochelo Rosenberg is one of the very top Gypsy guitarists in the world today, and Florin Nicolescu continues the style of the legendary Stephane Grappelli, who performed for so many years with Django in the Hot Club. Only one of the 11 tunes in the concert is by Rosenberg, and it is an improvised guitar solo titled “Listen.” The other ten including such Django hits as “Nuages,” “Manoir de mes Reves,” and the closing “Belleville” – which must have inspired the wonderful French animation feature The Triplets of Belleville. The three bonus features are excellent. Antonietto shows us his collection of actual guitars that Django owned and talks about the guitarist.
The arrangements are a delight; Rosenberg and the other two rhythm guitarists really tear it up on some of the tunes, and Nicolescu moves a bit beyond Grappelli in some of his wilder fiddling. Image quality is excellent and the audio first rate. The arrangements enlarge and enrich the tunes without overpowering or burying them in orchestrations. This is an unforgettable hour of Gypsy Jazz.
TrackList:
Djangology, Nuages, Diminishing Blackness, Douce Ambiance, Melodie au Crepuscule, Place de Broukere, Listen, Tears, Nuits de St.Germain-des-pres, Manoir de mes Reves, Belleville.
– John Henry
