I discovered a type of music that I have heard many times, but was not able to assign a genre.  Gypsy Jazz, a French born style of music, typically features acoustic string instruments such as guitar, upright bass, and violin.  One telling aspect of the style of music is the rhythm guitar which is played as close to a percussive instrument as you can get with out actually hitting the guitar with your hand like a drum.  For a look at the styles of guitars that Gypsy Jazz musicians typically play look here.

Django Reinhardt is credited with creating the music style France in the 1930’s and it is now popular world wide.  Unlike other genres, Gypsy Jazz musicians typically do not read or write music.  Songs are passed down orally or by recordings.  This makes learning to play Gypsy Jazz very challenging.

I was fortunate enough to catch an Orlando based Gypsy Jazz group, The Cook Trio, last night while staying at the Ritz-Carlton in Orlando on business.  The three musician’s (Brothers Jason and Ian Cook, and friend Kyle Jones) have over sixty years of combined musical background despite being in their early thirties.  I fell in love with the bright, yet elegant style and inquired about it.  I got a brief history lesson on Gypsy Jazz and was practically forced by Ian to look up Moreno, a French raised Roma, who further popularized Reinhardt’s music.  He said I would be so impressed that I would either be majestically inspired or quit playing guitar all together.  I have to go with the former.

I can’t wait to start learning to play this unique, rare form of music.

And there you have it.

Joe.

View Joseph DeCarlo's Profile      Subscribe via RSS