The music called Gypsy Swing is synonymous with the late Django Reinhardt, and many, many jazz musicians still play the style he pioneered. The Tokyo Django Collective is one such homage to the great man, with two guitarists and a double bass offering their interpretations of the genre. For the first time they were joined on stage by one of Scotland's best jazz (and folk) fiddlers, Seonaid Aitken.
This quartet delivered a gig of astonishing quality and excitement. While most the material came from the thirties and forties, some from the master himself, they were joined by some more modern pieces, including one from the pen of Aitken. After a nervous looking start they soon settled into the job and their increasing enjoyment communicated itself to the audience.
With the gypsy style having become such a staple of the jazz world, so many improvisations become quite predictable. But tonight all four musicians delivered solos filled with surprises and twists that kept your attention and delighted with it's inventiveness. Bassist Kyohei Abe didn't get as many opportunities as the others, but he got the biggest applause of the night for one remarkable passage, coupled with the obvious commitment and enthusiasm of his body language and facial expressions!
A well chosen set list, with a mix of tempos and approaches, included a few songs to provided a reminder of what a clear, sweet voice Aitken possesses. Four top rank musicians having fun together. An audience that knew it was watching something special. The ingredients for a very memorable evening.
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