Chasin the Gypsy

James Carter | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 6, 2000)
• Original Release Date: June 6, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Atlantic / Wea
• ASIN: B00004TJ75
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #147,770 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com's Best of 2000

For Chasin' the Gypsy, James Carter enlists violinist (and cousin) Regina Carter, drummer Joey Baron, guitar mainstay Jay Berliner, and several others to tackle this homage to Gypsy guitar virtuoso Django Reinhardt. The bustle and muscle are in balance, with accordion, steel-string guitar, bass saxophone, violin, and drums flawlessly chugging through these nine tunes. --Andrew Bartlett

Amazon.com

At first glance, jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt might seem an unlikely inspiration for a modern jazz saxophonist. But in referencing the fiery gypsy virtuoso (while employing dual acoustic guitarists), James Carter has fashioned his most compelling, fully formed recital as a leader. While his galloping soprano on the title tune enhances Carter's reputation as fiery technical craftsman (all the more joyous for the torrid exchanges with his cousin, violinist Regina Carter), Chasin' the Gypsy showcases his gifts as a torch player, while deepening his connections to the rich timbres, macho articulations, and swinging romanticism of the pre-bebop saxophone tradition. In the process, he finds provocative new applications for forgotten instruments of the 1920s. On "Oriental Shuffle," he elicits a ripe, bulbous tonality from the F Mezzo--like a soprano sax on steroids--carefully layering taut melodic nuggets until busting out in a Djangoish reverie. Even more satisfying is his portrayal of the classic chestnut "I'll Never Be the Same," in which James matches Regina's soaring lyricism by transforming the ungainly bass saxophone from an ugly duckling into a lithesome swan (as he also does on Django's classic "Nuages," with Charlie Giordano's accordion providing authentic period counterpoint). Fans of Carter's timeless tenor saxophone tone won't be disappointed by the tender inflections marking his intimate performance of "Django's Castle" and an original for his freshly minted baby daughter, "Imari's Lullaby." This is a big step up in class for the young heavyweight. --Chip Stern

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a parisian night, July 30, 2000

By 

p dizzle "p dizzle" (augusta, georgia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chasin the Gypsy (Audio CD)

with most tributes you expect a sampling of tunes by the noted artist with maybe an original or two thrown in for good measure. here, mr. carter not only samples the music of django reinhardt, but he creates the whole mood and atmosphere of paris in the 1920s and '30s. the intriguing instrumentation (accordion, violin, two guitars, and a bevy of little-used saxes [bass, f-mezzo, etc.])and choice of titles creates an experience of the sidewalk cafes on a cool night in the city of lights. you almost expect an arrogant waiter to insult you half way through the disc for good measure! mr. carter has always been adept at showing his chops, ranging from neo-bop to out music experiments, but here he reigns in the fireworks to evoke the sound and feel of django. the chops are still prodigious, but the melody's the thing here. particular highlights are the opening tango ("nuages"), featuring the bass sax, the swinging "oriental shuffle," and the beautifully pastoral "la detniere bergere." this is a wonderful album celebrating not only the past talent of django but also the ever maturing talent of mr. carter.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Music, May 3, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Chasin the Gypsy (Audio CD)

I've been a fan of James Carter for some years now and own every CD he's recorded. Someone once predicted that Joshua Redman would become the next John Coltrane but, if there is going to be a saxophonist to compare with St. John, my money is on Carter.

It's difficult to pin down what he's doing and where he's going because he is still BECOMING what he will be and I don't think he's established a pattern yet that allows us to predict his next recording efforts. No two of his albums have been the same.

Chasin'The Gypsy just blew me away! I've played it over and over and over again and I still love it for its richness of sound, its depth and multi-layered textures. My favorite Carter album had been The Real Quietstorm, a fascinating collection of ballads done in Carterian fashion, but now it has competition from Gypsy. If you haven't been introduced to Carter yet, start with these two CDs. But if you are a straight-ahead jazz fanatic, as I am for ballads, then try Layin' In The Cut or JC On The Set. It's all beautiful music. So, do yourself a favor and listen to this man!

What's next, Mr. Carter? I'm waiting in eager anticipation.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding treatment of Django's music, July 19, 2000

By 

John L. EISENHAUER "Jack E." (Brinklow, MD United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Chasin the Gypsy (Audio CD)

With this CD, James Carter reaffirms himself as the leading force on the tenor saxophone today. Carter has always been known for outstanding technical dexterity and power but has not gotten sufficient credit for the sensitivity and warmth he brings to the music. In this recording, Carter captures the feeling and sweetness of Django without imitating his music. He teams up with his sister, who plays violin, and weaves sounds that make you want to listen to the CD over and over. He also demonstrates his power by tackling the bass sax, an extremely difficult instrument to get any sound out of let alone brilliant melody. While quite different from his previous recordings, this may well be Carter's best.