Product Description:
Personnel: James Carter (soprano, tenor, F-mezzo & bass saxophones); Charlie Giordano (accordion); Regina Carter (violin); Jay Berliner (steel-string guitar); Romero Lubambo (nylon-string guitar); Steve Kirby (bass); Joey Baron (drums); Cyro Baptista (percussion).
Recorded at Avatar Studios, New York, New York.
CHASIN' THE GYPSY finds saxophonist James Carter, one of today's most soulful and innovative young jazz cats, confidently swinging an acoustic crew through music written and inspired by Parisian guitar legend Django Reinhardt. With a pair of guitarists deftly complimenting master Reinhardt, impressionistic accordion washes, and violin sensation Regina Carter's slippery, Stephane Grappelli-inspired gypsy slides, Carter gets to the music's deep roots and flourishes.
Reinhardt's melodic savvy, jubilant swing and wit are not lost on James Carter, who booms into the opener "Nuages" blowing the tune's head on a body-rattling bass sax--the initial surprise of hearing this uncommon instrument played with such effortless warmth is enough to coax a smile. Moving easily between tenor, soprano and f mezzo horn, Carter conjures many emotional moods; from the haunted, vibrato-soaked heartbreak of "La Derniere Bergere" to the carnivalesque accordion and sly musical smirk of "Manoir De Mes Reves." James Carter has certainly been CHASIN' THE GYPSY--sounds like he might have caught her, too.
Entertainment Reviews:
Rolling Stone - 1/4/01, p.106
Included in Rolling Stone's Top 50 Albums of 2000.
Rolling Stone - 8/3/00, p.56
4 stars out of 5 - "...An instant fave....swinging romantically, jauntily, [and] moodily....[His] affection for as bygone culture is palpable throughout and never deadened by piety..."
Entertainment Weekly - 6/9/00, p.79
"...A winning, offbeat tribute to '30s jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt, [his] pungent horns sidle up nicely to idiomatic acoustic guitar and violin..." -
Rating: B+The Wire - 8/00, p.46
"...Channels [his] bravado....immaculately arranged and sequenced..."
CMJ - 6/19/00, p.23
"...On this eclectic set, Carter's bold interpretations reflect a largely romantic mood...and his fluid interplay with classical guitar, accordion and violin remains alluring and effective throughout..."
Down Beat - 10/00, p.64
4 stars out of 5 - "...The mood here captures the spirit of Europe between the wars....[not] merely a tribute to the Hot Club...but darker and more abstract....beautiful."
