As you listen to this CD You'll shake your head in disbelief, thinking you've entered a time warp back to the 1930s,and you're hearing the glorious gypsy-jazz of the Quintet Of the Hot Club of France-the group fronted by the acclaimed guitarist Django Reinhardt and legendary violinist Stephane Grappelli- But it's not the Quintet, it's a Southern California group led by Raul Reynoso, a master acoustic guitarist whose technique is reminiscent of Django, but who has a jazz style and sensibility that is uniquely his own.
Raul's tone, dexterity, and skill are phenomenal, a technique comparable to any guitarist of the present, or for that matter, the past. Clearly, Raul has been influenced by Django, but you may note another influence, that of near immortal Argentine guitarist Oscar Aleman.
With this CD, Raul leads the group in an exciting interpretation of the vibrant, rhythmic feel of the hot jazz that was developed by French Gypsies in the 1930s.Raul also emerges on this release as a fine vocalist and composer, with seven of the original compositions included on the recording.
Raul is accompanied in this effort by equally qualified, highly-talented sidemen: Johnny Frigo (the legendary octogenarian jazz violinist who was imported from Chicago just for this recording,) Bob Reitmeier (clarinet,) and Raul's long-term friends and musical cohorts Doug Mattocks (acoustic rhythm guitar using the Carl Kress tuning,) Charlie Warren (string bass.) and Dick Hardwick (drums.)
All Of these musicians swing hard, and each has something worthwhile to say on their individual solo rides. Tunes on this CD are: Matelot, Exactly Like You, Waneta's Waltz, Royal Street, Blues for Dixie, Daphne, Raul's Rhumba, Alcia Waltz, Nuages, I'm Gonna Lock My Heart, Valse Marguerite, Dinah, and Sambali.
In addition to listening to Raul's stunning artistry on the guitar, some special things to listen for on the recording are Doug Mattock's impressive guitar chord-melody jazz improvisations on Matelot, Daphne, and especially Dinah, Bob Reitmeier's technically flawless clarinet artistry on Django's composition, the haunting Nuages; the smoothly supportive rhythm section of Charlie Warren and Dick Hardwick; a hint of Latin rhythm in Sambali.
Raul's vocal on I'm Gonna Lock My Heart reveals a tinge of 1930s Western Swing, and Johnny Frigo's Chicago-style jazz violin blending so delightfully with Raul's compositions such as Royal Street and Waneta's Waltz. The only thing better than hearing the recording is seeing the ensemble in person. Jazz festival directors take note; if you want to showcase a rarely-heard but popular form of swinging 1930's jazz, this is the group to be booked.
"Royal Street" receives a five-star rating
D.D. Trent