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Jazz is often referred to as
America's classical music. There is no question that at the
least the lines between the two genres often become blurred.
Wynton Marsalis, for one, has several classical releases
peppered among his extensive repertoire (and occasionally
demonstrating along the way that just because you're capable of
doing something doesn't always mean that you should). One recent
release which will further push the obsolescence of hard
and fast definitions is
PARISIAN HONEYMOON SUITE.
The CD is a compilation, really, as
opposed to a project; all of the works have appeared elsewhere,
between 1986 and 1999, though you'd
have to be a real fanatic to have the source of everything
presented here. The Hot Club de Norvege is an acoustic quartet;
as is common with jazz works, there are a number of special
guests; Sonnekai, a youthful trio (two of the members are in
their early teens) and Babik Reinhardt, son of guitar legend
Django Reinhardt.
The selections here range from the
familiar ("Time on My Hands (And You in My Arms),"
"I Can't Give You Anything But Love") to the more
obscure ("Fido"). The playing, regardless, is
impeccable throughout.
Unless you're familiar with Django
Reinhardt's early work it's going to be somewhat difficult to
describe PARISIAN HONEYMOON SUITE. Let me assure youthat this is
not elevator music of the Ray Conniff/ Percy Faith School of
Romanticism. Most of the tracks here are fairly bouncy, mid to
up-tempo numbers,
utilizing guitar and violin. Most of the tracks are relatively
short and to the point -- only one clocks
in over seven minutes, and most are around
three and one-half minutes or so in length -- so things move
right along. There is somehow plenty of room, however, for the
individual players to stretch out and
improvise a bit. The result is a work that is quite accessible
for those who are unfamiliar with either classical or jazz but
who are seeking to acquire painlessly an appreciation of either
or both. One in any event cannot help but appreciate the
workmanship of the musicians; at the least,
the casual listener will return to PARISIAN HONEYMOON SUITE for
a change of pace; what is more likely, however, is that anyone
unfamiliar with this type of work will seek out earlier jazz
works by such artists as Reinhardt and proceed to broaden their
musical horizons.
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| Artist |
Hot Club de Norvege |
| Title |
Parisian Honeymoon
Suite |
| Label |
Refined Records |
| Reviewer |
Joe Hartlaub |
| Rating |
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|
| website |
Refined
Records |
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