Yvonnick Prene (hca); Scott Tixier (vln); Michael Valeanu (gtr); Lorin Cohen or Eric Wheeler (bs); + (Strollin')Michael King (pno); Jay Sawyer (dms).(Review by Lance)
Hot Club music has always held a high place in my affections. Whether it be the original Grappelli/Django recordings or more recent incarnations such as our local heroes Djangologie (Cherry Tree, Jesmond, Monday March 31) or the London based Man Overboard (Omnibus, Clapham March 23) I'm invariably hooked by the aroma of Gauloise, Gitanes and Croix Monsieur evoked by the music.
Padam Swing may be Brooklyn based but their spiritual home is in Pigalle or Montmartre although with a more contemporary feel via material that ranges from tunes by Johnny Green (Coquette), Horace Silver's Strollin', the only Django piece - Troublant Bolero - Rollins' Pent Up House, Mingus' Duke Ellington's Sound of Love to Shape of my Heart by Sting. Throw in All of Me, Desofinado, What a Wonderful World and a couple of originals by Prene and you have a repertoire more diverse than most combos of this ilk.
Prene proves to be a facile harmonica player soloing and taking the lead on most numbers (didn't Larry Adler record with the Quintette du Hot Club de France?) easily slotting in with Tixier's jazz violin. With only the one guitar and a double bass in the rhythm section it's a lighter, swingier feel than you get from the more orthodox Hot Club line-ups and goes a long way to enable Padam Swing to play such numbers as Sonny Rollins' Pent Up House
Any disappointments?
Only one. When I noted the title of the CD - Wonderful World - I'd hoped it was going to be the Harold Adamson/Jan Savitt It's a Wonderful World rather than the lachrymose, flogged to death, What a Wonderful World (Sorry Louis - we still love you!)
Still, 10 out of 11 ain't bad. Recommended.
Yvonnick Prene - Wonderful World is now available - check out.
Lance.
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