Rocky Gresset: am I the last to know about him?

Lango-Django · May 2013

even now I still can't come to terms with how many French players and a select group of Dutch players are in a league WAY above the rest of the world.

Yeah, it's kind of amazing when you think about it, isn't it? Almost without the world even noticing it, the French have quietly developed into the guitar powerhouse of the world.

It's like a totally underground thing that most people would never suspect, but it's real.

shega · May 2013

And it's no surprise that they also led the way in lutherie as well. That level of guitar playing flourishes when there are suitable instruments at hand. In France there is no shortage of such instruments, is there :!:

andre · May 2013

Oh, come on, it's not really surprising that so many players from Django's part of the world still carry the torch... Apart from anything else, his branch of the extended Manouche family tree still thrive there.
And although there is still a long way to go for gypsies to have equal rights in French/European society - not that they'd want the SAME rights(!) -, nowadays there is WAY more interaction between Manouche and Gadje... For example, Ninine Garcia and Romane were close friends since they were kids... and as for La Chope des Puces, since Marcel Campion took it over and refurbished it, they are running a 'Gypsy Jazz School' from there!
( It appears that part of the education is playing a couple of tunes live inthe bar... When this happens, ok, the level of excellence may drop a tad, but hey, it's fantastic to watch those youngsters coming on, and to think you may be looking at the 'stars' of tomorrow, right there in the making...)
Sorry for the length of this post, but just so you're aware; there is a french Guitar Magazine called 'Guitarist Acoustic'. You should be able to google it & take a subscription, if you so wish. Obviously you will need to know at least a little French to get the most out of it, but the point is, apart from good music tabs, you also get a 'Newly released' colum, which will meticulously list EVERY G.J. recording released since the preceding issue, so you can always catch what's new...
And no, I don't work for it!

Mondoslug · July 2021

https://djangobooks.com/forum/discussion/11595/rocky-gresset-am-i-the-last-to-know-about-him

No, I think I am. 😀

Jeez...love his playing & tone on Selmer #607 or just in general that is.

Okay, this thread can now return to 8 years ago.

vanmalmsteen · July 2021

https://www.djangobooks.com/forum/discussion/comment/107296#Comment_107296

Hey man I just started listening to him last year!

very sophisticated. Somewhere on YouTube, he is playing minor swing but with a heavy bebop vocabulary, it’s just intense! Maybe I’ll try to find it

Buco · July 2021

I'm surprised I didn't comment on this thread already...what stands out the most about Rocky to me is every time I mentioned his name to any of the French, usually Parisian, instructors at DiJ (and they're monster players themselves), they would open their eyes wide and just say in awe "oh, Rocky...". I heard it mentioned that he purposely keeps out of the spotlight. His self titled album was on my daily rotation for months.

Mondoslug · July 2021

https://www.djangobooks.com/forum/discussion/comment/107301#Comment_107301

Thanks @vanmalmsteen, I probably have run across it...since I've been searching his stuff all over, There's one on a L5 and another on a F hole GJ guitar. I've been wearing out "Someday My Prince Will Come", * Mademoiselle" & some others on the Selmer #607 albums.