La Gitane

Nicolai Foss

Although I love Django’s compositions, in my view, the best part of the jazz manouche repetoire are the waltzes. One of the greatest of the waltzes is “La Gitane” by the famous late Toulon-based manouche guitarist, Paul “Tchan-Tchou” Vidal.

Here is Manouche guitar ace Angelo Debarre playing La Gitane. Here is Joschko Sthephan’s treatment, less aggressive/assured than Angelo’s. Xavier Riley give it a try here. This is Rezar Dominguez’ try (seems they both play nylon-string guitars). The Italian take (notice the strange pompe). And finally the great Stochelo Rosenberg. (but the best version of them all is Tchan-Tchou’s own original version; you can find it on this — highly recommended — CD).

Birelli on Archtop

Nicolai Foss

Here. I cannot tell the producer/maker of this guitar.

Jimmy Rosenberg is Back

Nicolai Foss

Jimmy Rosenberg, prodigy and gypsy jazz ace, is back in fine form. Jimmy’s career has been marred because of substance problems, but as these clips suggest he is playing better than ever. According to the text on the site, Jimmy now also (like Andreas Öberg) plays archtop guitars, but unfortunately that doesn’t show on the clips. Enjoy!

Gypsy Shredder Moreno

Nicolai Foss

One of the most under-appreciated contemporary jazz guitarists is the great Alsacian gypsy guitarist, Moreno Winterstein. Here is a clip, supplied by Rune Larsen (I believe Rune captured the performance on his own equipment), of Moreno in his usual intense shredding mood (playing an archtop that I cannot identify).

When I lived in Paris in 2002 I had the privilege to listen to Moreno on several occasions. He consistently played fantastically and was clearly idolized by the audience. Moreno is surely one of the most technically accomplished guitarists in the World, but still somebody who plays with a lot of feeling and inventiveness.

Here is another YouTube clip with Moreno.

UPDATE: Here is a clip from the recent Samois festival of Moreno, playing in a somewhat more relaxed manner.

Patotte Bousquet

Nicolai Foss

Here is the great gypsy guitarist, and exponent of the “Southern” approach to Jazz Manouche, Etienne “Patotte” Bousquet, playing a Django medley, beginning with Swing 42. Impeccable technique, great drive, and a nice cutting tone. Listen to this machine gun version of Tiger Rag. In contrast to most of Django’s successors who stuck to the Selmer style box, Bousquet played various cheap Euro archtops. Here is more Bousquet.

Gypsyguitars.com

Nicolai Foss

This is the site of the arguably premier dealer of gypsy guitars (the archtop.com of the monde jazz manouche). This is where to go if you are interested in a Selmer 1946 (offered at the bargain price of 26,500 USD). Check out the beatiful DiMauro gypsy archtop design, Chorus, and the Cousnon copy of that design (priced at less than half of the original).

Busato on French Ebay

Nicolai Foss

While Selmers are undoubtedly the reigning kings of gypsy guitars, Favionos and Busatos are right next in the hierarchy. Here is a nice example of the seldomly traded Busato guitars. Note the back. There are 8 days left. I would be surprised to find it trading for less than 3,500 Euros.

UPDATE: It ended at 1,905 Euros. Somebody made a bargain!

Selmer #823 (1948)

Nicolai Foss

Here it is. At the bargain price of 20.000 Euros!