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Hot Club of Detroit: It's About That Time

By Larry Taylor
April 20, 2010
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Hot Club of Detroit: It's About That Time

This is the year of "gypsy jazz." Around the world, the 100th birthday of

Django Reinhardt

guitar
1910 - 1953

" data-original-title="" title="">Django Reinhardt, legendary Gypsy guitarist, is being celebrated with festivals and concerts.

At this centennial time, the Hot Club of Detroit's It's About That Time is firmly in the tradition of Reinhardt's Hot Club of France, his legendary quintet from the1930s. This follows the Detroit group's 2008 self-titled release, but goes further beyond gypsy genre-related tunes with arrangements that incorporate the influences of greats from

Duke Ellington

piano
1899 - 1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Duke Ellington and

Pat Martino

guitar
1944 - 2021

" data-original-title="" title="">Pat Martino to Chopin. A partial look at the play list reveals its eclecticism: "Duke and Dukie,"

Joe Zawinul

keyboards
1932 - 2007

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Zawinul's "It's About That Time" and

Charles Mingus

bass, acoustic
1922 - 1979

" data-original-title="" title="">Charles Mingus' "Nostalgia in Times Square."

From its inception, this type music has been traditionally performed with a lead guitarist, joined by a violinist, two rhythm guitars and bass. Here, guitarist Evan Perri spearheads an ensemble made up of accordion, clarinet, saxophone and, most importantly, two guitars. The rhythm guitar is the hallmark of the gypsy swing sound, played with a distinct percussive technique that replaces drums; it sets the pace—fast or slow—anchoring the sound.

In jazz settings, the accordion is often shunted to the background. Here, however,

Julien Labro

accordion

" data-original-title="" title="">Julien Labro stands out in his beautiful introduction to Chopin's "Tristesse," which features Perri's delicate guitar and {{Dave Bennett}'s elegant clarinet. Labro also excels in the bluesy "Patio Swing," and his exchanges with saxophonist Carl Cafagna are, as Reinhardt in his day might say, "a gas."

The CD, itself, hits its stride immediately with "On the Steps," influenced, by a Martino song, with stomping solos by Perri and Cafagna. In "Noto Swing," Cafagna's whirling dervish of a solo levitates this animated tune by Lulu Reinhardt, he of the contemporary German gypsy jazz scene.

It's About That Time provides that good-time gypsy feeling for sure, but it also offers newer things to grasp.

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Track Listing

On the Steps; Nostalgia in Times Square; Noto Swing; "Tristesse" E Major Etude; Equilibrium; Restless Twilights; For Stephane; Papillon; Duke and Dukie; Heavy Artillerie/It's About That Time; Patio Swing; Sacre Bleu; Sweet Chorus.

Personnel

Hot Club Of Detroit

band / ensemble / orchestra

Evan Perri: lead acoustic and electric guitars; Julien Labro: accordion, accordina, bandoneon; Shannon Wade: bass; Andrew Kratzat: upright bass; Dave Bennett: clarinet; Carl Cafagna: tenor and soprano saxophones, clarinet; Paul Brady, steel and nylon string string rhythm guitars; Colton Weatherston: guitar.

Album information

Title: It's About That Time | Year Released: 2010 | Record Label: Mack Avenue Records

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