Swing Manouche featuring Daniel John Martin @ the Jazz Café

Daniel John Martin (vln/vcl); Mick Shoulder (gtr); Giles Strong (gtr); Paul Edis (clt); Paul Susans (bs). (Review by Lance/Photo courtesy of Mike Tilley).

The room was crowded and justifiably so although one or two kept their coats and mufflers on! These days I think that Gipsy Jazz has taken over the role once occupied by Trad Jazz in the eye of the public inasmuch as it's foot tapping and not too demanding on the ear. Mick Shoulder's Swing Manouche. which developed from his equally appealing Djangologie, took on a new dimension last night with the addition of French violinist and occasional vocalist (and whistler) Daniel John Martin.

Martin is quite unique. Unlike most hot club fiddlers he doesn't follow the Grappelli route instead he's very much his own homme. If there are any outside influences, and I say if advisedly, then perhaps it's another Frenchman - Jean-Luc Ponty.

From the opening Coquette everything gelled with le  bon monsieur spiriting the Jazz Café away from Pink Lane to the Rue du Coq in Montmartre.

Bandleader bassist turned guitarist Shoulder opened up a few eyes, impressing all with his technique and his affinity to the idiom.

On bass tonight was Paul Susans depping for Neil Harland. As always, he did the business.

Caesar Swing gave way to Martin's first vocal - It Had to be You - then Strong was featured on a bolero, the full title of which escaped me. Giles too is a player, sliding seamlessly from rhythm to solo. Edis on clarinet, as opposed to piano, although in minimalist mode was no less effective and added to the overall tonal picture as did Martin's next trick - a unison chorus of whistling and pizzicato violin!

J'Attendrai brought a shriek of delight from Patti resulting in an invite from the stage for her to sing it - an invitation she declined!

Take Zee A Train and Minor Swing concluded the first set.

There was a buzz in the air during the interval. The kind of buzz you only get when the audience knows they are witnessing something special.

Activities got underway again with I'll See You in my Dreams. Nuages began with a violin introductory cadenza of Kreisler-like virtuosity before the quintet embarked on this most loved piece of the hot club repertoire.

All of Me, another vocal, included a violin/vocal scat chorus that somehow seemed to segue into a Bach fugue!
Giles took the lead on 51 Swing before the big finale on Dark Eyes.
It had been quite a night and, if you missed out, catch them tonight at Bishop Auckland Town Hall or Queen's Hall, Hexham, on Friday night (Details in top right hand column.)
Photos.
Lance.