Customer Reviews

Live

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
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In a sense this recording represents a passing of the torch, as virtuoso violinist Stephane Grappelli bridges two generations of great acoustic jazz musicians --- from his all-time classic 1930s recordings with the Hot Club of France (and the great guitarist Django Reinhardt) to this remarkable recording with David Grisman, Mark O'Conner and Mike Marshall. Grappelli was incomparable in his Hot Club of France days, and he hadn't lost a beat by the time of this recording almost 50 years later. Grisman's music was greatly influenced by Reinhardt and Grappelli and the old Hot Club of France, and this CD represents a kind of tribute to those great pioneers of acoustic swing music --- but it's much more than just a nostalgic nod to the past. It's a historic recording in its own right, and the music is truly wonderful. Grisman and Grappelli sound as if they'd been playing together for years, and the respect they have for each other is obvious throughout the entire set. It's not an exaggeration to say that Grappelli and Grisman are two of the very best and most innovative musicians (especially on acoustic string instruments) of the 20th century, and it's a real treat to get to hear them play together on this recording. I'm sure you won't be disappointed in this CD, and if you're interested in hearing some of Grappelli's great early recordings with Django Reinhardt you can't go wrong with the wonderful 5-CD box set called "Django Reinhardt: The Classic Early Recordings in Chronological Order." Enjoy!!

I defy anyone to listen to this CD without grinning. This music is pure joy. If you play a string instrument, your jaw will drop down to your knees. Grappelli's technical virtuosity is astonishing; what's even more remarkable is how effortless he makes it sound. And Grisman smokes. This is why God gave us fingers.

French violinist Stephane Grappelli played a number of times with Old & In The Way alum David Grisman in the late '70's & early '80's. On this swinging 1981 trip to the Bay Area, Grappelli & Grisman played The Great American Music Hall in SF, as well as some of the best shows I have seen in my life, at The Paul Masson Mountain Winery in Saratoga(thanks again, Bruce!), which is where the cover shot was taken. I believe Stephane was in his late 60's when this was recorded, but he kicks it out with the best right here, with the flying fingers of David Grisman on mandolin. From the intro to "Shine" to the frantic Gypsy-esque finale of Tzigani>Fisztora>Fulginit, Grappelli & Grisman play as sweet as you could want. The only problem I have is that this should be a double set. FYI, the Gypsy medley finale derives from the soundtrack to the '70's film KING OF THE GYPSIES. I heard these two play a number of tunes from thatfilm on King Biscuit in around 1977, & I've wanted that soundtrack ever since, but for some reason, it was never released. Write your local record mogul! We need to hear more from these two geniuses.

Grapelli, Grisman, Marshall, O'Connor, Wasserman. If those names don't mean anything to you... they SHOULD. They are absolute masters of some of the finest, most beautiful, moving, virtuoso music on the planet. Grapelli, decades removed from his celebrated partnership with Django Reinhart is joined with Mandolin master Grisman, with Mark O'Connor on guitar (he also plays an impossible violin duet with Grapelli on "Tiger Rag"), Montreaux and Modern Mandolin Quartet master Mike Marshall and bass master Wasserman on jazz standards, gypsy swingers, and other pieces to knock your acoustic socks off.

Grappelli, Grisman, and Mark O'Connor all playing together in a classic performance. My favorite piece is Tiger Rag where Grappelli and then 18 year old O'Connor play a transcription for two violins with lots of improvising throughout. Grappelli commented later that O'Connor would do great things with his music, and his prediction has come true. O'Connor displays his virtuosity on guitar as well on the other tunes. Grisman, O'Connor, Marshall, and Wasserman provide a great acoustic background for Grappelli's legendary sound. These are tunes that were not typically in the DGQ repertoire, but they sound like they've been playing them for years. Another bonus is Tiny Moore's electric mandolin solo on Satin Doll. This album is a true classic.

This is a rock solid performance where Grappelli and Grisman elevate themselves to near God status. I don't know if I have ever heard anyone any one blend so smoothly with Grappelli. This is my all time favorite version of Satin Doll, and Sweet Georgia Brown & Tiger Rag are exceptional too. All in all this is a must have cd if you are a fan of either of these to musical giants - you can't go wrong with this one!!!

All the DAWG grandchildren seem like really happy to play with this fabulous Jazz Violin Player.
During this concert, Grappelli must have found the image of Django on the performance of Grisman. Grappelli's elegant and sophisticated playing was a complete contrast to Grisman's totally extravagant and free pikin style. This is almost same as assortment of QHCP. I was rearlly impressed with their tender-hearted tones.

If you don't already know about Stephane Grappelli and his position in the history of Jazz - you should. A formally trained musician in Paris, his interests were in the Hot Jazz that in the 1930s was little practiced outside of the United States. A legendary meeting with a group of Gypsy musicians led to the formation of the Quintette Du Hot Club De France and a legendary partnership with Django Reinhardt - probably the most famous Jazz partnership outside of the United States, and the most famous Jazz String Band in the World.

David Grisman grew up in New York with a trombonist father, but listening to the mandolin recordings of Bill Monroe as well. He blended his diverse musical interests to create "Dawg" Music - a string-band Bluegrass-flavored jazz.

The Grisman band circa 1981 included the still teenaged prodigy Mark O'Conner on guitar (although Mark breaks out his awesome fiddle to play a duet with Steph that is absolutely blistering hot.) Young mandolin monster Mike Marshall is in this band. Grisman has written that it was unsettling to be "blown away on stage every night by a guy playing MY instrument - but at least he was playing MY music." Bass virtuoso Rob Wasserman anchors the group. Darol Anger was the usual Grisman violinist, but when Grisman was approached to provide the music for the film "King of the Gypsies" he immediately thought of the man who had the greatest living understanding of gypsy music - the legendary Grappelli.

After recording the soundtrack (with Guitar Monster Tony Rice) they embarked on a brief tour which included the concerts where this live album was recorded. (Rice was replaced by O'Connor for the tour.)

Although I have listened to dozens of discs of both Grappelli and Grisman I don't think I have ever heard either more inspired. These musicians feed off each other. This can turn mediocre musicians into something worth listening to. It turns these icons into gods. As Grisman wrote in the liner notes - standing next to Grappelli on stage made him feel like he was standing next to Zeus, tossing lightning bolts.

The tracks are "jazz greatest hits" like "Shine" and "Tiger Rag" and "Sweet Georgia Brown" and "Satin Doll" and "Misty" with a medley of "King of the Gypsies" music.

You just HAVE to hear this. While these tracks are on it is as if the entire musical world stands still.

I cannot recommend this highly enough.

I've been listening to both of the recordings David Grisman made with Stephan Grappelli - this one - the live session, and 'Hot Dawg' - the equally incredible studio session with Eddie Gomez on bass on a number of tracks, since their release in the early '80's. This is the type of music to which one never stops listening - always exciting - though easy and smooth - always new shades of the riffs revealed. I was gratified to see this recording as high up in Amazon's ratings after all these years - sort of verifying for me by way of vox populi what I've felt for over a quarter century now - this was one of the best groups ever - emminently listenable - fun - and they really cook.

A magical live concert of early Dawg Jazz featuring the greatest jazz violinist of all, the immortal Stephane Grappelli.
For anyone who likes David Grisman's playing, this disc is not to be missed. For anyone who likes Gypsy jazz, ditto. Four young string virtuosos--Dawg, Mark O'Connor, Mike Marshall, and Rob Wasserman--and one sexegenarian from Montmartre produced one of the greatest concert recordings back in 1979. The music has lost nothing in the nearly 30 years since.