Gypsy Jazz

Vendele197 · #1 02-11-2011, 02:21 AM

I wasn't sure where to put this, but here goes...

I'm a Jazz Major at the University of Utah, and am required to play in a "Jazz Combo" every semester. This semester I decided to join up with a few of my friends in the school and play gypsy jazz. The thing is, I don't really know much about gypsy jazz, and especially don't know any gypsy jazz players I should be listening to.

Can anyone direct me to any particular bassists, past or present, that play this style? The only notable gypsy player I know is Django, obviously, but I know nothing of any others.

Also, any tips about playing gypsy jazz? I've just been approaching it like I would swing tunes, but I'd like to sound a bit more "authentic" and be more comfortable with the style than I currently am.

Any help would be useful. Thanks.

Paul Barsic · #2 02-11-2011, 08:51 AM

Oh, that's great music, but it's mostly about the guitar and the violin. It rarely showcases the bass player. Still, I like that stuff. Here are some modern performers/bands to check out:
Tchavalo Schmidt
Dorado Schmidt
Pearl Django
Hot Club of Sweden
Twin Cities Hot Club

Who are the bass players? I don't know. They don't often get solos. However, these more modern recordings are going to have more bass in them than some classic Django recordings.

Now that I think about it, Charlie Haden put out an album called "Gitane" which is a little unusual in that it is a guitar/bass duo. I like that album a lot.

J. Montgomery · #3 02-11-2011, 08:57 AM

In reality, gypsy jazz is Django (& Stephan Grappelli). Or at least in 99% of peoples minds. Kind of like when people say they like reggae, they really mean they like Bob Marley and don't know any other reggae artists.

I play a decent amount of gypsy jazz tunes myself, and I approach them very simply. Playing them like swing is a good start, but throw in more roots than you might normally do and chromatic lines connecting changes. The bass and extra acoustic guitars are meant to provide a rhythmic framework and outline the chord changes.

Bireli Lagrene is a great gypsy jazz guitarist too. Check him out.

Jake deVilliers · #4 02-11-2011, 09:41 AM

You're going to want to check out John Jorgenson too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Tm5I...eature=related

thirddeeplens · #5 02-11-2011, 11:57 AM

There's 2 good bass players on this Gypsy Classic…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7H3sAZpjfE

J. Montgomery · #6 02-11-2011, 12:10 PM

'Minor Swing' and 'Dark Eyes' are probably my two favorite gypsy jazz tunes. Theres a popular Gypsy Jazz group in town that turns practically any tune into the style, they even rocked out 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' the last time I saw them.

Vendele197 · #7 02-11-2011, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Barsic

Who are the bass players? I don't know. They don't often get solos. However, these more modern recordings are going to have more bass in them than some classic Django recordings.

I'll be honest, I was stoked on playing gypsy jazz this semester simply because the bass doesn't take solos. I like being a rhythm player first and foremost. All suggestions and tips so far have been very helpful. Thank you.

J. Montgomery · #8 02-11-2011, 12:50 PM

I'm not ashamed to say I pretty much suck at soloing, and I dread doing it in public. I'm comfortable enough playing an occasional solo at practice, but on a gig I prefer to not solo.

Its not even something that I really practice on my own, either. I'm just not that into it.

IdealWay · #9 02-12-2011, 08:14 PM

I'm playing in a gypsy swing quartet right now and definitely recommend listening to John Jorgenson Quintet for inspiration and ideas. Chances are you won't be playing exactly in the style of Django, so listening to contemporary groups should be helpful. There's a local gypsy swing group called One Leg Up, which a buddy of mine plays bass in, that's worth checking out (youtube: "One Leg Up Asheville"). Also, focus on the rhythmic motifs in the bass, they help define the feel. Have fun!

JuniorDouglas · #10 02-15-2011, 08:01 AM

I love these guys. In fact, Geoff Perry, the fiddle player was my bass teacher when I was a kid. A great modern rendition that is the real deal. Check out:

Www.babikjazz.com

MattyBass · #11 02-16-2011, 08:22 AM

I would say check this out for inspiration..
why not take some solo's yourself... : )
I recommend watching the Whole video...
Best,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqeuF39vcM4

johninmemphis · #12 02-16-2011, 02:44 PM

Check out the Gypsy Hombres on YouTube also - good stuff.

tstone · #13 02-16-2011, 05:08 PM

There's a local band called Gaucho which plays in the Gypsy Jazz style. They have some material on YouTube and a couple of CDs out, from which you can hear teaser clips on amazon. Personnel is variable; sometimes a singer, sometimes horns, but nearly always two guitars, accordion, DB, and drums.

If you ever get out to San Francisco, they play (for free!) every Wednesday night at the Amnesia Bar on Valencia street. They have a loyal and dedicated following,and it's nice to see people get up and dance to jazz instead of sitting around looking grimly serious and stroking their beards ;^)

Here's a sample:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JJkfXCpE38

moles · #14 02-16-2011, 05:37 PM

Nicholas Dubochet.
Check out his interview and video at The Art Of Slap Bass (Djorge Stijepovich's site).
He's got some stuff on YouTube as well...

fretlessspence · #15 02-16-2011, 10:20 PM

I play in a gypsy band now and I would sum it up like this. Most tunes outside of the waltzes and boleros are like this. The bass provides beat 1 and 3 while the rhythm guitar focuses on 2 and 4. Lots of root five bass lines with typical transitions between chords. More linear walking on the solos. My 2 cents.

Feral Feline · #16 03-11-2011, 09:46 AM

Sheesh! Lazy!

Quote:

Originally Posted by moles

Nicholas Dubochet.
Check out his interview and video at The Art Of Slap Bass (Djorge Stijepovich's site).
He's got some stuff on YouTube as well...

Finally a bass player's name is mentioned (Love Haden, but he doesn't specialise in the genre).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jake deVilliers

You're going to want to check out John Jorgenson too. YouTube - John Jorgenson - Ghost Dance

That would be Charlie Chadwick when I saw Jorgenson strut his stuff, and Simon Planting is no slouch.

Lemme see now, Django's bassists:
Django's Bassists

Some good clips noted here.
Keep Swinging: Louis Vola: bass player and bandleader

Check out Mango fan Django's Brian Hofflander
Mango Bios

Mike Weatherly from Gypsy Jazz Caravan
The official Gypsy Jazz Caravan Website!

Alex Morissette of The Lost Fingers takes a laid back solo here (LF take a non-standards approach to repertoire)
YouTube - The Lost Fingers - Black Velvet

Andrew Kratzat from Hot Club of Detroit
Hot Club of Detroit
and Shannon Wade
YouTube - Hot Club of Detroit : The making of 'Night Town'

I'm not a fan and this is stretching it considerably, but Drew Birston and David Woodhead from Sultans of String are a good example of gypsy jazz not being a stagnant music and that it continues to evolve
YouTube - Sultans of String - Yalla Yalla!

So many more to explore...

Yeah, bass players here should name the bass players...

Dave Speranza · #17 03-11-2011, 11:00 AM

Keep your notes short, lean forward on the beat, and don't EVER drag.

21niko21 · #18 11-20-2011, 08:07 AM

I just got to see Mango Fan Django last night and they're great. Brian actually takes a solo pretty much every song and gets the most applause of anyone in the band. He's awesome. I wanted to ask if he gives lessons, but people wouldn't stop talk to him long enough.

Carl Johnson · #19 02-06-2012, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Feral Feline

...
Alex Morissette of The Lost Fingers takes a laid back solo here (LF take a non-standards approach to repertoire)
YouTube - The Lost Fingers - Black Velvet
...

Amazing, thank you...

kurt · #20 02-21-2012, 06:06 PM

I was gonna mention John Jorgensen but some of you already have. And yes that is Charlie Chadwick who plays with him, also known as inventor of the folding bass.

As already mentioned, lot's of two feel lines. Work on your major pentatonic scales as well. Walking was a lot more arpeggio based and pentatonic then. And learn how to slap. Most of those old recordings the bass was plucked in a different manner. More like you're pulling the string away from the body, like you do when you slap, even if you are not slapping the 2 and 4. But with the gut strings they were using in those days there was more note, less clack. I used to think the percussionist was playing a wood block all the time on that old stuff but it's all coming from the bass!

There's a boxed cd set called "How low can you go?" that's an anthology of early recordings with good bass. Not just gypsy jazz but dixieland, swing, western swing. A really good resource for studying old time music where you can actually hear the bass. And one of the best slap bass solos ever recorded is on there, Cab Calloway's pluckin' the bass featuring Milt Hinton.