1910
Les Doigts de l'Homme
It has been a long time since I have heard a CD that is this much fun and contains so much joy in music making. Les Doigts de l'Homme are a virtuosic quartet who place their exquisite talents in the service of happy and accessible music with no compromise in integrity. If you enjoy fun music played at the highest levels of skill then skip this review and buy this great CD right now!
OK, if you are still reading then I should tell you a bit more about this fine album and these great musicians. They are a group of three guitars and bass, based in France. Their name means "the fingers of man" and the CD demonstrates that these fingers are the repositories of superb skill and finesse. 1910 is their most recent CD, a fantastic collection of standards and original songs featuring six by Django Reinhardt. While Les Doigts are no doubt classified as "Gypsy Jazz" they bring many more influences to their interpretations so that they manage to sound thoroughly up-to-date even as they remain faithful to the originals. This is no mean feat, and yet these marvellous players make it sound effortless as they invite us to join in the fun.
The album begins with a spirited version of Blue Skies that immediately demonstrates the virtuosity of the soloists as well as the superb taste of the arrangers. Great single-line and chord melody solos alternate, culminating in some wonderful two-guitar passages that cap it off perfectly.
Ol' Man River continues in a similar vein. After a quirky and fun start we are right back into amazing two-guitar passages, more fantastic soloing, and a style that is absolutely unique. If ever there was a group to appeal to both ordinary music lovers as well as guitar aficionados this is the one.
Niglo 1 Waltz seems to be an hommage to the maker of Yannick Alcocer's guitar. In fact, it was written by his fellow guitarist Olivier Kikteff. You would have to be pretty light on your feet to dance to this one, but it more than repays your complete attention, standing still or seated.
Appel Indirect is the first of Django's tunes. Here the intro sounds like something by Raymond Scott (whose song Powerhouse you probably know, but may not know that you know - look for it on YouTube). Don't listen for lifts of Django's riffs; what you will hear is his same joy in virtuosic playing and melodic invention.
The title tune 1910 (written by Olivier Kikteff) begins with a lovely guitar solo that picks up the incredible energy of the group as the band comes flying in. It seems that the melodic invention of the guitarists has no bounds, at least not on this album.
St. James Infirmary Blues might seem an odd addition to such a happy album, but it provides a change of pace, as well as the opportunity to play some great acoustic blues over some iridescent harmonies.
I've Found a New Baby returns to the joie de vivre of the earlier tracks, with a few musical surprises to keep things interesting.
Django's Boléro changes up the tempo with an insistent bolero rhythm that draws in the entire band until the melody slowly evolves from clouds of arpeggios. The clarinet of Stéphane Chausse adds a new dimension to the sound, a haunting quality further amplified by the rich, slightly dissonant harmonies.
WIthout even a breath, we are off into Féérie. This great Django tune motors along relentlessly, driving up the energy level even more. So much happens that it is hard to believe it only lasts for just over two minutes!
Indifférence slows things down somewhat, with some lovely guitar ensemble moments. This one builds to quite a climax before relaxing back to its original mood.
Blue Lou then seems to come strutting out with a confident steady beat and yet more great guitar playing. This tune just overflows with exuberant energy and doesn't drop a beat right up to the final chord.
Russian Melody is actually an extract from Django's performance of "Two Russian Melodies." Once again M. Chausse's clarinet is featured, here over staccato guitar figures. The guitar figures become washes of colour as the melody is spun out. Then it's the guitar's turn to take the melody and run with it, before being joined by the clarinet once again.
Improvisation no. 2 is another Django tune, this time taken in a more introspective manner - at the start at least. It soon picks up momentum, and continues along with a quiet intensity with frequent breaks for the return of the opening phrase. And of course what would an improvisation be without a seamless change of pace in the middle?
Django's Swing 48 is another great arrangement that more than does justice to the original. This is one of the finest demonstrations of this group's great grasp of harmony as well as their originality in melodic improvisation - all at warp speed. And Tanguy Blum finally gets his moment in the sun with his bass!
After all of this excitement it is certainly time for a ballad, and the band complies with a beautiful arrangement of There Will Never Be Another You. The solos are alternately tender and frenetic, always tasteful and in sympathy with the song.
The group's final tune is Django's Minor Swing. This tune always seem to have the verve built into it, but once again Les Doigts ratchet it up a notch with some fantastic playing and memorable soloing. Best of all, this one has all the swing that you could hope for and is a great finish to the ensemble's playing.
Improsture no. 1 is something special, even though a guitar solo (with dubbed in "record scratches") might seem odd after the great ensemble playing of the previous 16 tracks. The secret is in the title: an "improsture" is a virtual jam, where one person posts a musical performance (often improvised) for others to add their own instruments and ideas. So rather than hearing this as a finished work, think of it as a "play-along track." And why not add your own playing to it, if you are moved to do so? After all, you are being invited here to join in the fun!
(And in case you do not read French, the quote at the bottom of the second page of text in the booklet translates roughly as: "Let those with ears hear." Vraiment, mes amis!)
In summary, this is a terrific album that I highly recommend. Great music, fantastic playing, and all sorts of fun. Could you ask for more?
You can buy this wonderful CD at Amazon.com