Reinhardt would have surely nodded in approval if he was still around today, as he recorded thirteen different versions of the song. "Nuages" one of Reinhardt's more famous compositions, is played slowly and confirms that Djangologie aren't afraid to interpret these numbers in their own style. "You're all miles away," remarks guitarist James Birkett, but along with guitarist Giles Strong, they capture the gypsy rhythmic style authentically and it doesn't feel like there is any distance, for their music engages the audience wherever they are sitting. It's just what the doctor ordered for a Sunday afternoon, as luxurious-looking food hampers are opened, wine is poured and fresh cream trickles over strawberries. There are few more joyous sounds than that of the sweet jazz violin and Emma Fisk plays the intricate lines once played by Stephane Grappelli masterfully, but with her own musical identity. This virtuoso four piece consisting of two guitars, double bass and violin spirit us away from the grand home and well kept gardens to a smoked filled Parisian bar, next to the Eiffel Tower, particularly during Reinhardt numbers such as 'Diner's Swing' and 'Swing 39'. One feels that Djangologie's gypsy jazz, akin to the guitar style of Django Reinhardt first played around the hotclubs of Paris in the thirties, should have no end to it either. "There is never ever any ending to Paris." Ernest Hemingway said once. with Someone to Watch Over Me the highpoint for me, Emma wringing every last ounce of emotion from her violin.īurton Agnes Jazz and Blues Festival, 2014 Reviewed by Paul Spencer and David Wright Sparks never fail to fly when you put these two giants of north east music together and tonight was no exception. We spent the early part of the evening in French restaurant Monkmans listening to one Emma Fisk introducing a selection of Joe Venuti/ Eddie Lang music accompanied, as ever, by the mythical gypsy guitar of James Birkett. Venuti & Lang Ilkley Jazz Festival, August 19th 2016: Review by Steve Tulip I now know what it's like to live in a parallel universe! The songs, the fiddling, the guitar chords were in my head and I was oblivious to the Friday night mayhem around me. I say 'brought my evening to a close' but it didn't. ![]() My Honey's Lovin' Arms I'm Confessin' Blue Bottom Someone to Watch Over me It Had to be You Kickin' the Cat It's Only a Paper Moon Sunshine and Autumn Leaves brought my evening to a close - Metro beckoned. Halftime and France v Portugal will have to score ten goals each to match this! ![]() The opener, Pardon me Pretty Baby, set the benchmark which was pretty high and, as the evening progressed, just got higher and higher! Cheese and Crackers Summertime I Can't Give You Anything But Love I Found a New Baby Hiawatha's Lullaby Sunday Dinah Georgia on my Mind and Raggin' the Scale. The repertoire was the familiar, the not so familiar and occasionally the unknown. Together, it was a musical marriage made in Pink Lane. Emma Fisk swings like few violinists do whilst Jim Birkett (I can't get used to calling him James) can cover just about any style from Lang to Metheny via Django and Christian. ![]() Truly outstanding performances by two top draw instrumentalists totally au fait with the music they were recreating. Make no mistake, this was a gig that mattered. loud and prolonged applause at the end of each number. However, this was a tribute to the timeless music of Joe Venuti and Eddie Lang who, I'm sure, had noisier audiences to deal with back in the days of prohibition in the speakeasies of Chicago and New York.Īs it happened, until The Caff's bathtub gin kicked in, the audience were respectful and only made with the decibels when it mattered i.e. ![]() Venuti And Lang The Jazz Cafe, Newcastle upon Tyne Review by Lance Liddle, July 8th 2016Ī violin/guitar duo in The Caff on a Friday night had me wondering if they'd be able to compete with the Friday night ravers - a body not noted for taking vows of silence. "In a concert packed with moments to savour, just to hear Barker’s recreation of Bix’s sublime solo on ‘Singing the Blues’ was a joy but then so too was violinist Emma Fisk’s recall of Joe Venuti on the small group version of ‘Raggin’ the Scale’, complete with David Horniblow’s bass saxophone and the guitar work of Martin Wheatley." Jazz Rep Company's Paul Whiteman Concert, Cadogan Hall November 2015, Peter Vacher Jazzwis e Magazine
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