Gypsy Jazz

thomasross20

This is a sort of jazz I could actually get into. Does anybody play it? 

I was in GG Glasgow about a month ago playing on some guitars and this guy comes over and starts playing some Gypsy jazz - it was very cool. Who plays?

thomasross20

EricTheWeary

I saw John live a few years ago, great stuff including gypsy jazz versions of FBI (I think) by The Shadows (and Hank Marvin is a big gypsy jazz fan).

viz

Love that. Has similarities with Russian folk and also a bit with Brazilian jazz for some reason. Amazing how tight they are - the sync between guitarist and recorder is it?

RocknRollDave

I'd love to be able to play like this:

eSully

I posted this on it's own thread before but worth adding here, I love this (Gypsy Jazz version of For the Love of God)

Jalapeno

I do. Go to a club once a month and a number of us gig, usually in the summer.

thomasross20

Jal - any good learning resources? Got clips?

thomasross20

Jalapeno

Learn La Pompe - the rhythm, the swing style is vital playing .  It can feel very square to begin with, but it is key to the sound - loads of youtube for that - Robin Nolan has a great site.  You need to feel it.  Rhythm players are key to the sound as they not only play the backing, but replace percussion - the Chink of the Boom-Chink sound replaces the snare.

After that a few heads - Minor Swing, Minor Blues, It Don't Mean a Thing if it Ain't Got that Swing - listen to lots of Django, particularly the early scratchy stuff

Then solos - lots of runs, outside notes, approach notes, emphasizing the 6th rather than the 7th (like"proper" blues in that respect).

thomasross20

Right, I'll look into this for sure. 

To me it's a bit like flamenco - a very authentic feel, quite romantic - love it!

Jalapeno

This is excellent

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Guitar-Styles-Django-Reinhardt-Gypsies/dp/0711918538

The full monty ........

https://www.amazon.co.uk/LEsprit-Manouche-Romane/dp/0786668946

Jalapeno

This is a belter .... the percussionist is brilliant




They guy standing up is Angelo Debarre, and sitting in the centre is Dorado Schmit - both superb payers in their own rights

For a full 2hr 58 mins concert with the undisputed maestroof the style leading , Bireli Lagrene all sorts of others (including those 2 ^^^^)

Jalapeno

Oh and you can get the percussive sound on any steel acoustic by playing close to the bridge. 

The Selmer style guitars are flipping loud, but don't have much sustain played hard.  Played soft they are very chimey.

thomasross20

So you reckon I'd still be ok doing this on my Larrivee? 

Will check all that out tomorrow (band practice tonight..). 

Do you think this style is any more difficult than "normal" jazz?

Jalapeno

Bit easier tbh - follow the arpeggios and tonal centres (251 patterns) of the tunes. Most "outside" notes are approaches or incidentals.

thomasross20

This style has some of to romanticism if flamenco (check me!!) but won't require brand new technique (am I wrong?) so sounds good to me..

EricTheWeary

In that first clip John Jorgenson is playing a gypsy jazz style acoustic but he used to gig in this style with with a fairly standard Takamine electro-acoustic. Bireli also does electric gigs and the three guitarists in the clip Dave posted seem to be managing on standard electrics.

thomasross20 said:

So you reckon I'd still be ok doing this on my Larrivee? 

Jalapeno

Bireli's electric gigs are more of jazz/fusion, than straight up Gypsy/Manouche style.

musteatbrain

This video has some good tips.
Especially around the picking element when he chooses to throw in the odd non alternate picked note in some of the high speed runs.

thomasross20

Thanks, guys - I look forward to trying this out