LITTLE ROCK — The lyrical, toe-tapping, swinging, audacious music of gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt continues to inspire American musicians, including the gifted Cajun singer Ann Savoy.
Her new album, Black Coffee (Memphis International) with the Sleepless Knights, pays homage to the music and spirit of Reinhardt and the Quintette du Hot Club de France, the innovative and original band co-founded in 1934 by Reinhardt and violinist Stephane Grappelli. The CD merits an A- rating.
Savoy’s sassy new album uses that music as inspiration and reference point as she embraces the sounds of jazz, blues, pre-World War II Paris and New Orleans. And it’s easy, given Savoy’s own rich musical heritage and background, to hear common threads in this varied repertoire.
While it explores sounds from the past, Black Coffee is not strictly a retro album. Its fusion ofmusic, sophistication and sexiness is contemporary in its execution and attitude. And Sleepless Knights - a tight, crack ensemble - plays a key role in that success.
Savoy opens with “I Cried for You,” taking the Billie Holiday tune and swinging it even more. There are two Bessie Smith tunes; Savoy delivers the bawdy “Whoa, Tilly, Take Your Time” and, especially, “You’ve Been a Good Ole Wagon,” a blunt put-down of an ex-lover. Fiddler Kevin Wimmer’s solos are amazing.
Reinhardt’s lovely “Nuages” (“Clouds”) is a one of his best-loved tunes most of us know as an instrumental. Here it is presented with French lyrics and Savoy sounds fabulous.
The album’s title song has a funny lyric about having too much to drink (“ whoopee juice”) and Savoy captures its flavor beautifully. Holiday’s hit “If You WereMine” has a long, cool intro before Savoy’s superb and yearning vocal. The Gershwins’ romantic and alluring “Embraceable You” is a duet with guitarist Tom Mitchell, who sings in English and Savoy follows in French.
Fittingly, the album closes with Reinhardt’s “J’attendrai,” which brings forth another passionate vocal in French.
Savoy and Sleepless Knights have crafted a casualsounding, stimulating album that revels in the pure pleasures of music-making with skill and heart. You won’t need black coffee to stay awake for this one.
Reinhardt’s mastery has exerted a powerful influence on guitarists, who have recycled and emulated his style, including Les Paul, B.B. King, Chet Atkins, Eric Clapton and many others.
There are many Reinhardt recordings available. For a good introduction, consider Djangology (RCA). The reissue has 23 tunes recorded in a 1949 Reinhardt and Grappelli reunion. The chemistry between the men is very potent. Selections include “Beyond the Sea,” “All the Things You Are” and “Brick Top.”
Here are some albums that are in the spirit of the original Hot Club:
Hot Club of Cowtown, Wishful Thinking (Gold Strike). The reunited trio soars in the Quintet of the Hot Club of France/western swing vibe. This could be their best album ever.
Hot Club of Detroit, It’s About That Time (Mack Avenue). This quintet is inspired by Reinhardt and Grappelli’s gypsy jazz, but has expanded its music to embrace bop, a touch of funkand a bit of classical.
Frank Vignola, 100 Years of Django (Azica). Celebrating the centennial of Reinhardt’s 1910 birth, guitarist Vignola pays tribute to Reinhardt the composer with 10 of his tunes, including “Swing Gitane,” “Mystery Pacific” and “Nuages.” Vignola’s playing swings beautifully, manifesting the master’s bittersweet tone; the ensemble is superb.
John Jorgenson Quintet, One Stolen Night (J2). Former Desert Rose Band and Elton John guitarist’s take on gypsy jazz sparkles.
David MacKenzie and Josh Johnston, Notes Home (Shandon). Irish piano and guitar duet sparkle on this loose, gypsy-jazz-inspired set of originals.
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Style, Pages 51 on 07/25/2010