GJ nerd rant

a

Why is that nobody has yet to crack the "django code"? i love all the new players- they each do something really well, sometimes better than django. that said, he's the only one who represents an integration of all those vibes (execution, ideas, lyricism, daring, Improvisation, etc.) ?????

frater

Maybe because Django is not a musician: he is a mystery like Mozart and Bach.

scot

I think that if such a person did appear, he'd be summarily rejected for not being authentic enough.

Frank Wekenmann

I agree with Scot. Django was avantgarde at his time whereas the current scene is as conservative as it gets.

BluesBop Harry

For me that man is Bireli Lagrene, he comes closer to the spirit of Django than anyone else... except for the invention of a new genre and Django's natural and very prolific composition skills.

Django was unique. As you said I find most of today's followers took one facet of his style and developed that, and Bireli in my opinion is the only one that has multiple sides of the essence of what Django did, especially the daring seemingly effortless mastery of the instrument, he'll take risks anywhere whereas most of the other super virtuosos are much more conservative and stick to a much more servile attitude in honoring the man.

frater

Agreed... manouche use to say that Django is God, Bireli the Pope. IMO he's at present more in the Holy Spirit position. ;-)

P.S.
But please let's not forget Django was also an incredible composer...

V-dub

I think Sebastien Giniaux fits all those categories

I know he doesn't have a lot of material out there right now, but I really wish you could all hear the live recordings I've heard. He is the real deal.

gitpicker

Boy this is highly subjective. There are so many great players I couldn't ever say one is THE best (that's just ridiculous) but in terms of "cracking the code" and going freakin' far out there, I agree with Harry. I can say FOR ME personally, Bireli is the guy.
Also it seems like everytime he has a new album out with new tricks, interpretations, arrangements, a month later you hear everybody else doing it. He's always going someplace new.

There are some other players I just freaking love their playing and always will but maybe to me some guys preserve the music to the highest level while others like Bireli always seem to be moving it. So he's not the only one per say but I just can't think of anybody else that grabs me the way his playing does. My opinion anyway. Highly subjective, no wrong answer, just personal taste.

2 cents ching ching.

Stringswinger

Doug,

Make that 4 cents as I completely agree with you and Enrique...but then again great minds think alike eh?

Ampsmasher

You can't forget Angelo's Gypsy Guitars..

Bob Holo

What, no mention of Boulou & Elois?

Though, really - I kind of don't see this as a code... if by "code" it means a new single creative force that is dominant and affects every player in a significant way...

In fact, the thing that blew me away at this year's Djangofest was that it seemed like 2008 was the year that everybody (finally, thank God) got to be themselves... That's the sign that GJ is not just a fad anymore, but an artform in full evolution. HCSF came out and did a very traditional show. Then out comes Sebastien and rips it up on Romany songs - then Gonzalo who laid waste to the place with his soulful playing - people played from their strengths and influences... Doug trading Bop-fours with Mimi - at a "Gypsy Jazz Festival" and people loved it. Even the Rosenbergs who are traditionalists by nature did some fairly non traditional stuff that rocked. In past years I've noticed a tendency for competitive shredding or mastering the theme of the year, be it downtuning or moveable harmonics etc... but this year it was like everyone decided it was OK to be themselves.

There is depth and breadth in talent right now that is just amazing - full fledged talents like Bireli & Stochelo & Romane & Boulou & & & ... And warming up in the batter's box - well a lot of you guys have have seen Sebastien & Adrien & Gonzalo & Mathieu & & & so you know the kind of young talent out there - writing original material from their individual backgrounds... and soon you will see Richard Manetti & Rocky Gresset... and behind them are immensely talented guys barely in their 20's like Nichto Reinhardt and Thomas Baggerman ... and those are just the Europeans... Maybe I need to get my rose colored glasses checked, but the scene right now blows my mind. It really does.

... or did I just miss the whole point of this thread haha...