Looking for this type of genre of music?
Asked by
rjb1983 (
158
)
February 5th, 2011
I heard a group of people playing the other night outside and it sounded amazing. It wasn’t blues, and not bluegrass; it was more folk and jazz, perhaps. The chord progression was very simple: Em B7 Em Em / Em B7 Em Em. Rhythm was 4/4. There was guitar soloing on an Em7 scale. I really just don’t know what to call this. It’s like Django Reinhardt but slower and with vocals. Paris Combo is similar, but it’s a little more complex, and faster. Can anyone think of what to call this, and/or any bands that might be similar?
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5 Answers
Well Django was gypsy jazz, but I don’t know enough about music to know if that’s what you’re describing.
Tarantella or Devotchka might be of interest to you.
Not sure of the style but Pink Martini is reminiscent of Paris Combo.
You might like this by John Jorgenson.
John Jorgenson actually did a series of concerts a few years back that were inspired by Django Reinhardt (that I was fortunate enough to attend). He actually played Reinhardt in the movie Head in the Clouds.
He and his band also made a wonderful CD called Franco American Swing that you might like. It’s no longer available on Amazon, but you can purchase it through his website.
Kardamom I saw John Jorgenson play at this music festival called Riverfest in Knowlten, NJ. I was familiar with him from the album you mention, Franco-American Swing. He was just great. I went there soley to see him but there were a lot of very talented musicians playing that year. Among them were the band Crooked Still, a “Newgrass” group that is excellent. For $10 you got a full days lineup of great music. Sort of a no frills setting, but who cares when the music is that great? I made a point of seeing him when he was in Head in the Clouds .
I also like Paris Combo. Saw them perform in New York. Until I saw them perform I didn’t realize that in the song Sous la Lune, the trumpet player puts his horn into a basin of water in order to get that special sound effect of muted gurgling. Pretty strange but pretty cool to see. The persussionist is really great also and Belle du Berry the singer, well she is awesome, goes without saying. No visuals for that trumpet effect unfortunately, but you can hear the song here. The gurgling starts at 3 minutes in.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhxB8OJtGME
I’m intrigued, but I need more information. You’re telling me it’s in a minor key. Of course there would be a V7 chord, and I would have assumed 4/4. By Em7 scale you mean that the guitar was soloing in E Dorian? Now that’s something I can understand. No wonder you thought it was gypsy music.
Tell me more and I’ll answer your question. And please genuflect when mentioning Django. (No, I’m not a registered asshole. Just looking for a laugh. But trust me, I know these things.)
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