Frank Forte - Just Jazz Guitar Magazine (May 26, 2009)Gypsy Daydream: a cd by The Red Rock Hot ClubFrank Forte md
Yes ANOTHER Hot Club, this time from Salt Lake City, Utah, and I liked them! Founded by Rich D'aigle in 1999, the group released Gypsy Daydream in the fall of 2008.
Pat Terry, professor of jazz studies at the University of Utah is the rhythm guitarist, and Scott Terry keeps the authentic beat on bass.
They are joined by Violinist Dan Salini and John Flanders on the Clarinet.
The CD boasts tunes that were originally performed by Django Reinhardt (may 16, 2009 was the 56th anniversary of his death and guitarists are still in awe of him today).
Additionally there are two noteworthy originals by D'aigle, plus, his rendition of 'When You're Smiling " will make you smile.
The recording is very well done technically. The playing is relaxed, swinging and really in the mode of a 30's Paris Hot Club. The melodies are well stated and the improv’s are always interesting, but not overloaded with notes. This is not to imply a lack of virtuosity, but to stress that this group has a coherent presentation of good swinging music and not a unending burst of fiery arpeggios.
Listen to Django again and you will hear the same restraint and tasteful use of his gigantic technique. They have achieved a balance between the authentic QHC's of Django and their own tastes and influences.
You can hear this in the D’aigle original, "Gypsy Daydream" with a Latin beat and also in "Royal and Conti.”
I would say this set of tunes is always pleasing, never straining and does not fail to swing even though played with a relaxed feeling.
Many Hot Club groups have risen from the desire to enjoy the music of Django Reinhardt and other Gypsy Jazz players.
If you love this music, you never tire of discovering new groups in the genre. You, like me, get excited to hear one that can play the tunes and add something of their own to the tradition. I think you will agree that the The Red Rock hot Club fulfills these requirements.
I'm getting lots of kicks from mine!
Red Rock Hot Club
"Gypsy Daydream"
The Red Rock Hot Club is based in Salt Lake City but inspired by Paris. And this album of Gypsy Jazz is the real deal.
The quintet is an intriguing blend of Django Reinhardt’s early Hot Club Jazz with his war-era swing music, inspired respectively by the American Jazz of Louis Armstrong and Benny Goodman. Led by Rich D’aigle the band blends the the violin of Dan Salini playing Stephane Grappelli’s role with the Clarinet of John Flanders taking Hubert Rostaing’s place. The group is filled out by guitarist Pat Terry and Bassman Scott Terry. With both violin and clarinet melding with the strings, the band boasts a full rich, full sound.
The setlist here is pretty true to the Django Songbook,with the addition of a couple of D’aigle originals “After You’ve Gone” steps spritely into Django’s ”Nuages” moving into “J’Attendrai” and more standards and classics.
But it’s the style with which they swing their music that lifts the Red Rock Hot Club above the ordinary. On cuts like Eddie Durham’s “Topsy”, The band rides the melody with abandon, charging into inspired improvisations, and trading eights that are truly Hot.
- Michael Dregni
Michael Dregni is the Author of:
Django – The life and Music of a Gypsy Legand (Oxford Press)
Gypsy Jazz – in Search of Django Reinhardt and the soul of Gypsy Swing(Oxford Press)
Django Reinhardt – and the illustrated History of Gypsy Jazz (Speck)
Scott Yanow - L.A. Jazz Scene Magazine's Veteran Jazz Critic Scott Yanow's Review of "Gypsy Daydream" (Feb 23, 2009)The Red Rock Hot Club, Gypsy Daydream
55 years after his death, the music and style of Django Reinhardt are as popular as ever. During the past 20 years, “gypsy jazz” has caught on big in Europe and in certain areas of the United States . The combination of an acoustic guitar soloist, violin, a rhythm guitar or two and a bass performing swing standards is still an irresistible idea, often augmented by other instruments and original tunes in the style.
One would not necessarily think of Salt Lake City as a hotbed of gypsy swing, but that is where The Red Rock Hot Club is based. The group, consisting of guitarists Rich D’Aigle and Pat Terry, violinist Dan Salini, clarinetist John Flanders and bassist Scott Terry, was founded by D’Aigle in 1999. On Gypsy Daydream, they perform five vintage standards, six Django songs, two originals by D’Aigle and the haunting “J’Attendrai.” The latter was featured on the only full-length sound film of Reinhardt with the Quintet of the Hot Club of France.
While Dan Salini and Rich D’Aigle naturally hint at Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt, they are creative within the style and not merely copying the past. Their versions of such numbers as “After You’ve Gone,” “Blues For Ike,” “Swing 48,” “When You’re Smiling” and the classic “Tears” are fresh and alive rather than just museum pieces, showing off the vitality of the band.
Django would have enjoyed this CD, and would certainly have loved to sit in with the Red Rock Hot Club. Gypsy Daydream is available from www.redrockhotclub.com.
Scott Yanow
Local CD RevueThanks again to you and the Red Rock Hot Club for performing for us at Bistro Toujours in Deer Valley! The dinner guests loved your band,and we loved working with you all.your professionalism is exceeded with the raw talent of your group. We did a lot of searching to find you and we're glad we did! The Red Rock Hot Club provided the perfect atmosphere for our dinner. I hope we have and opportunity to work together in the future - You definately made our night!
Red Rock Hot Club, John Whipple, Royal Bliss, X96 Live & Local, Fail to Follow, The Heaters, The Lethal West, Robert Lund
by Bill Frost
RED ROCK HOT CLUB Gyptology ****
Straight-up instrumental gypsy jazz on three acoustic guitars, stand-up bass and violin—it’s all about Django and swingin’ like 1939, and the Red Rock Hot Club have the fou skills to do both justice. What the hell are they doing in Utah? (RedRockHotClub.com)
Sincerely,
Chiharu Dixon
Events Manager
AOL Media Networks
Chiharu Dixon - AOL/Media Works
You guys are just amazing, I'm mean we are talking the real deal Django sound!
Steve Williams - Renowned Jazz Officianado and KUER DJ (Mar 30, 2008)
Everyone LOVED you guys Sat. night.
Thanks for making our night special.
You're on our "A" list...
Kate Macleod - Singer, Songwriter, Musician (Apr 1, 2008)
Thanks for being so flexible - you and your guys really helped make our event everything we had hoped for.
Everyone at Stein Erikson's loves you guys!
Darrin Piccoli - Spike Entertainment Productions (Apr 1, 2008)
BEST LITTLE BIT OF PARISContact and Book:
Red Rock Hot Club
Every now and then, we all need to hear the music of 1930s Paris made famous by guitarist Django Reinhardt and violinist Stephane Grappelli. From time to time, we all crave "jazz manouche," "gadjo swing," "jazz hot," "hot swing" or "gypsy jazz." Well, even if you don't think you do, trust us, you do. It's what you'd love to listen to on a hot summer night, while dancing barefoot on the grass under twinkling patio lights. The Red Rock Hot Club is Utah's own gypsy band, playing on acoustic stringed instruments—including replicas of the odd-looking guitars that Reinhardt played. Look for them at the Bayou and Caffe Niche … or whenever there's a gypsy wind.
redrockent@gmail.com,
booking agent Rachel Daigle at 801 485 1575
