Customer Reviews

Django Reinhardt New York Fest Live Birdland

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I was lucky enough to be in the audience on one of the four evenings this festival took place. All I can say is that the guitar work of Jimmy Rosenberg is incredible, and to hear him play live is a uniquely exciting experience. Frank V. plays with a level of refinement that only a handfull of American jazz guitarists have achieved, and all together, the music on this album will just blow you away.

Some high points on the album include: The Sheik of Araby, Turkish Delights, and one of the most exciting renditions of Limehouse Blues you'll ever hear, complete with shouts whistles from the crowd.

At this point, I just have my fingers crossed that they'll make a CD of the 2001 festival as well: Angelo Debarre and Dorado Schmitt were incredible, and George Benson (one of the greatest jazz guitarists in jazz history), was kind enough to get up from his table between dinner and dessert to play a few songs with the group!

In the meantime, get yourself a copy of this album and enjoy.

If you love Django, you can never get enough. And though tribute albums are not everyone's cup of tea, this one is exceptionally easy to digest. It goes down exceptionally well. The playing is strong, intense, and emotional throughout. Highlights abound. Especially moving is Jimmy Rosenberg's version of "With You It Was So Beautiful."

Being a fan of Reinhardt it's nice to here these young players playing the hell out of these tunes. From the begining of "The sheik of Araby" to the last note of "Limestone Blues" There isn't a wasted note. I only wish there was more Regina Carter (violin), her playing gives me the shivers. The crowd is very much into these performances. They yell and hoot after every great solo.Django's son Babik also shows up to put in a few tasty electric guitar solos. This album should be a classic, you don't get performances like this that often.And when you do you want to treasure them. Buy this album and treasure it.

I bought this album by mistake. I thought it is Django's record. When I came home I found out that this is a tribute album. And a very good one two. Jimmy Rosenberg is great guitarist. Django would be proud of him, as he would be of his son Babik who is also playing here. The other guitarist are Bucky Pizzarelli, Frank Vignola and Birelli Lagrene joined by Jon Burr, who was Stephane Grappelli's bassist for the last decade of his life, Regina Carter or Florin Niculescu (violin) occasionaly, Joe Ascione and pianist Pete Malinverni. Songs are recorded live. I wish I would be here when they played.