Night Town

HOT CLUB OF DETROIT: Night Town
Mack Avenue, 2008

GYPSY JAZZ – HCOD is one of the tightest, liveliest groups currently working in this genre, which was pioneered in the 1930s by Belgian/French guitarist Django Reinhardt. The group switches up the traditional “Hot Club” lineup by dropping drums and violin in favor of sax and accordion, which makes the sound less sweet and more agile. Their second CD picks up where the first left off, in pure joy.

Fo’s Picks: 1, 3, 5, 8, 11, 12, 14

1. 3:00 – brightly swinging standard, a cheerful stomp with fine solos
2. 4:41 – gentle Parisian café sound, then a light swinging breeze
3. 2:47 – spinning waltz: melody unspools sinuously, guitar & accordion solo
4. 3:22 – Miles Davis was never this happy in his life. Sax goes for it.
5. 4:40 – easy stroll with an infectious riff; really nice guitar work on this one
6. 5:13 – happy samba, light and airy with sparkling solos
7. 3:24 – old Jelly Roll Morton tune: lazy stroll, then upbeat swing
8. 3:49 – blues jam: soulful sax & crisp accordion trade off solos
9. 5:58 – easygoing French strut; guitar/accordion weave through cool rhythm
10. 3:30 – relaxed ballad, a cheery reverie
11. 5:06 – original tune, like something from a 60s film score, chugging rhythm
12. 3:43 – old-world sound: accordion solo to start, then quick & sneaky
13. 4:14 – funky swing with chunky rhythm: a lesser-known Django tune
14. 5:10 – original tune, dusky and sweet, hints of tango, steady rhythm
15. 5:22 – original tune: relaxed and satisfied, then upbeat swing

[ Fo ] 3-Aug-08