Rodolphe Raffalli

pallopenna

The more I listen to Rodolphe Raffalli, the more I love it. He's just incredibly tasty (and tasteful).

I have a question about his use of the classical guitar. I assume that he uses a pick. If so, what kind of pick works well with the nylon strings? This is just curiosity on my part, I don't own a classical guitar. But whichever guitar he's playing, he has fantastic tone. Hence my curiosity.

Also, there was some mention in an earlier thread about a new Raffalli album. Does anyone have an update?

-Paul

langleydjango

Hi Paul,

Rodolphe is one of the most under-appreciated players out there. Purely beautiful playing from beginning to end on both of his major releases.

He doesn't play a classical guitar. That is the tone he gets from his Selmac guitar, whatever model/maker he happens to be playing at the moment.

I'm first in line for any new CD.

Troy

kimmo

langleydjango wrote:

Rodolphe is one of the most under-appreciated players out there. Purely beautiful playing from beginning to end on both of his major releases.

Couldn't agree more. He also plays beutifully (but too little) in Patrick Bruel's album, the cover of which was discussed here
http://djangobooks.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=167

langleydjango wrote:

He doesn't play a classical guitar. That is the tone he gets from his Selmac guitar, whatever model/maker he happens to be playing at the moment.

Sometimes he also plays classical. This is Doudou Cuillerier's comment on the Brassens-cd (he played rhythm in it): Chaque titre est un petit bijou mais nous avons un faible pour "La marche nuptiale" avec une magnifique intro à la guitare cordes-nylon, "Le vieux Léon" à la nostalgie déchirante, et une version jubilatoire de l'"Oncle Archibald".

Djangostation.com reveals the details: Rodolphe Raffalli joue sur une guitare Cyril Morin de type Selmer-Maccaferi avec des cordes Argentine-Savarez. (5) & (12) jouées sur une guitare classique Takamine modèle Concert.

5 and 12 are La Marche Nuptiale and Le Vieux Léon.

I'm quite sure Ted is right about the pick.

V-dub

I know I'm not adding anything new here, but I just want to cast another vote that I agree that Raffalli is highly underrated.

His playing definitely stuck out to me when I first heard him. Original, sophisticated, and beatiful. Anyone who isn't familiar with his work yet really needs to get a hold of some!

MichaelHorowitz

I really dig Raffalli to!

Samples here:

Rodolphe
Raffalli

Georges
Brassens











Rodolphe
Raffalli

Gypsy
Swing Guitar

MontereyJacques

.

Jack

That Brassens album is great for anyone looking to branch out in the style...we need more of that these days!

Best,
Jack.

sockeye

I'm gald to see this thread. I love Raffalli's playing. The Brassens CD in particular is amazing -- L'Orage is one of my favorite pieces ever.

Barengero

Jack wrote:

That Brassens album is great for anyone looking to branch out in the style...we need more of that these days!

I agree with that very much. Rodolphe´s playing reminds me of the guitar style of the great old corsican (selmac-)players like Antoine Bonelli, Bruno Bacara, Jacques Istria or Paulo Quilici. Some of you will know that Rodolphe has his seeds in corsica, too. In my opinion a very interesting branch in "our" style.

Best,
Barengero

François RAVEZ

It is also worth noticing that in his first recordings, Georges Brassens had most of the timea corsican guitarist like Victor Apicella or Antoine Schessa and later on Barthélémy "Mimi" Rosso. On the original version of 'Mon vieux Léon' the 2nd guitar is played by Jean Bonal.

Best

François RAVEZ

Barengero

François RAVEZ wrote:

On the original version of 'Mon vieux Léon' the 2nd guitar is played by Jean Bonal.

Hi,

Jean Bonal played second guitar on some more George Brassens tracks:

13 octobre 1958 - Georges Brassens et sa guitare avec Pierre Nicolas, contrebasse et Jean Bonal, deuxième guitare :

TITRES référence Ø 25 cm 33 t 1/3 Phil.
Le vieux Léon B 76 451 R
Le pornographe B 76 451 R
La ronde des jurons B 76 451 R
Le cocu B 76 451 R



14 octobre 1958 - Georges Brassens et sa guitare avec Pierre Nicolas, contrebasse et Jean Bonal, deuxième guitare :

TITRES référence Ø 25 cm 33 t 1/3 Phil.
La femme d'Hector B 76 451 R
A l'ombre du coeur de ma mie B 76 451 R
Bonhomme B 76 451 R
Comme une soeur B 76 451 R


Best,
Barengero