If Covid had anything in its favour, and there wasn't much, it was the emergence of the livestream. Those sessions by the good and the great, as well as the aspiring newcomer streaming from his/her bedroom, gave access to musicians who to many, myself included, were but names yet to be heard.
Such a case was Kansas Smitty's who regularly brought names such as Adrian Cox, Joe Webb, Noah Stoneham, Will Cleasby and, of course, one of Kansas Smitty's founders, Giacomo Smith who is heard to great advantage on this album of manouche jazz.
Manouche, as anyone who's familiar with Mick Shoulder's Swing Manouche outfit will tell you, is basically Django style jazz with clarinet replacing violin.
Smith is magnificent. The Italian born clarinet/soprano maestro who grew up in upstate New York, copped for a music degree in Boston and a masters in Montreal before moving to London, has the technique of Benny, the tonal liquidity of Artie and the modernity of DeFranco which, combined, make for a clarinet front runner. He sails through the collection of nine standards and two originals with ease. One of them, Beijinhos (a little kiss), written in cahoots with fellow KS clarinetist Adrian Cox.
Equally outstanding is Mozes Rosenberg on guitar. Not only is Rosenberg of Dutch Sinti origin but is also a relative of Django's. It doesn't specify the exact relationship between Mozes and Django but, judging by the former's technique he is certainly well-versed in the idiom.
Oswald and Brunard slot in with authenticity ensuring the solid rhythm is kept flowing. Brunard takes a bowed solo on The Sheik of Araby that has an almost cello-like resonance - I wonder... Top marks all round.
Release date July 18 (Stunt Records). Lance
After You've Gone; Begin the Beguine; Beijinhos; Embraceable You; Indifference; Mr Tom; Festival 48; Dream of You; The Sheik of Araby; Panique; Tiger Rag
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