Customer Reviews

Swing Strings

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This is a great swing style jazz album by Mr. Saumarez. He offers new and exciting interpretations to classic jazz standards. It is great to to hear Victor breathe new life into some of my favorites like Summertime, Swing 39, and Minor Swing. Keep up the great guitar playing!

By: Edward Blanco

British-born jazz guitarist Victor Saumarez, based in Pasadena, California, is primarily a self taught musician who has been playing the acoustic guitar for two decades. With three previous recordings to his credit, Swing Strings leaves no doubt that this man knows how to pluck a mean string with grace and elegance. This album is an acoustic journey and in part, a tribute to the Gypsy style of Django Rheinhardt with beautiful renditions of Rheinhardt's "Swing 39" and the classic "Minor Swing" where Saumarez demonstrates his ample talents on the acoustic guitar.

There are no original tunes on this project but that's not a criticism just an observation. In fact for this listener one of the positive elements that makes this disc so enjoyable to hear, are the selection of great time-honored standards that Saumarez interprets with finesse and style. This is none so evident as on the Cole Porter immortal "Night and Day" featuring an amazing dance on the strings by the leader backed up by nice support and a solo from Tim Powell on the Upright bass.

The album opens up with a lively and jumpy version of Duke Ellington's "It Don't Mean a Thing" showcasing the violin of German composer Benedikt Brydern and a strong powerful performance by Saumarez. Other notable standards here include the bluesy Gershwin tune "Summertime," Jimmy McHugh's "I Can't Give You Anything But Love," and Victor Young's "Beautiful Love."

Swing Strings conveys a dynamic performance by a master of the acoustic guitar in interpreting familiar jazz standards in a swinging fashion. Whether a light strumming or a forceful plucking of the strings, Saumarez does a wonderful job with the guitar on a very enjoyable and entertaining session of music. An excellent album that will appeal to all.