Gypsy Research Essay

CalebFSU · March 2008

although everyone else has answered you yeah 1500 words easy. Check your colleges music library if it has one. I wrote a paper on the subject for an Ethnopoetics class I took and I am turning it into a graduate school writing sample. Michael how is your research coming....when the hell do you sleep man? I know a ton grad students who don't do half the stuff you do and bitch that they never have time for anything.

MichaelHorowitz · March 2008

CalebFSU wrote:

Michael how is your research coming....when the hell do you sleep man? I know a ton grad students who don't do half the stuff you do and bitch that they never have time for anything.

....and add a couple of screaming babies into the mix and it's a miracle I can get anything done.:!: :!: :!:

'm

loumt123 · April 2008

Ok, so I've been researching and have come upon more questions than answers. From what I understand, most people believe Django was the originator of gypsy jazz guitar, but I've found reference to the Ferre brothers a little earlier. Which was it?

I have also come to understand that Django was a Manouche Romany.
Does this mean he was part of the broader groups of nomadic tribes of India who traveled to Europe (the roma), but more specifically of the Manouche tribe or "Sinti", which is where the name Manouche Jazz originated, which means jazz of the manouche tribe. So it would be incorrect to identify the genre as "Jazz Gitan" as Django was not of the Gitano tribe and he was the original creator?

Just trying to clarify, it's all very complex and I'm sure I sound like a noob but I appreciate the help

MichaelHorowitz · April 2008

loumt123 wrote:

Ok, so I've been researching and have come upon more questions than answers. From what I understand, most people believe Django was the originator of gypsy jazz guitar, but I've found reference to the Ferre brothers a little earlier. Which was it?

Yes, the Ferre brother were active at the same time. Hard to say who was the very first Gypsy to play a swing tune. But there's no doubt that Django was the most influential and successful Gypsy guitarist playing jazz at that time.

So it would be incorrect to identify the genre as "Jazz Gitan" as Django was not of the Gitano tribe and he was the original creator?

But the Ferre's are Gitan, and so are many of the other famous players like Rapahel Fays and also the Garicas ( I think).

loumt123 · April 2008

So how would you define gypsy jazz? From what I gather, I think it is american jazz with the gypsy style and technique, but dregni says that it's not a marriage of the traditions of gypsy music and american jazz.

Klezmorim · April 2008

So as not to "reinvent the wheel," here's a link you might find useful... Forum member "scot" led me to it in an off-line exchange:

viewtopic.php?t=346&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

-k

TimmyHawken · April 2008

IMO I agree that gypsy jazz is American jazz played with gypsy technique. I think the important distinction is "la pompe" rhythm. I would call any group with a guitar rhythm section, that's playing jazz, Gypsy Jazz or Jazz Manouche. I think that in Django's later years he became more of a gypsy who played Jazz than a Gypsy Jazz player when he started to play electric or with drums (I love that stuff, but to me it's a little more straight ahead jazz than Gypsy)