Ballade pour la Nuit, live in Hilversum

(2 customer reviews)

8.26

1. Douce Ambiance (Django Reinhardt) (04:24)
2. Paquito (Paquito Lorier) (04:23)
3. Ballade Pour La Nuit (Reinier Voet) (06:38)
4. What Is This Thing Called Love (Cole Porter) (03:59)
5. Calcutti Calcutta (Henri Crolla) (03:11)
6. La Complainte De La Butte / Valerian Valse (Van Parys / Serge Krief)  (04:05)
7. Ou Es-Tu, Mon Amour? (Emile Stern) (04:27)
8. Swing Zavatta (Reinier Voet) (04:02)
9. My Room (Reinier Voet)  (04:58)
10. Minor Swing (Django Reinhardt)  (02:57)

Total time: 43:08

Recorded January 13, 2019 at MCO, Studio 2, Hilversum, The Netherlands

 

SKU: cd544 Category:

Description

Django Reinhardt was my first love and he was the reason for me to pick up the guitar. My father had some Django records, so starting with listening to Django was only natural. But I must say that through the years Jim Hall and Wes Montgomery have been as much an influence as Django Reinhardt…

After I graduated as a jazz guitarist at the Royal Conservatory of the Netherlands, years of playing with gypsy masters like Fapy Lafertin and Jimmy Rosenberg were to follow but also listening to more modern guitar players like Birèli Lagrene and Boulou Ferré had a serious impact.
Kenny Werner once said: “Innovation is the Tradition”. And maybe this is indeed the most important lesson I learned from these masters. It has encouraged me to find my own voice and not to be afraid of incorporating my other influences in my version of ‘jazz manouche’. After all Django listened to Charlie Christian and Charlie Christian listened to Django!
The roles in this quartet are clearly defined. One could say that the solid rhythm guitarist Jan Brouwer and steady bassist Jet Stevens represent the tradition: they know how to hold a groove. Karin van Kooten’s playing is refreshing: she has her own voice. So often in this field of music, violin players tend to copy a bunch of Stephane Grappelli licks and then think they are set to go. Not so with Karin, she respects the tradition but dares to incorporate outside influences from classical to modern jazz music.

We also combined tradition and innovation for the actual recording session. The recordings were made in Holland’s oldest radio studio for live music (where Django Reinhardt played a radio show in 1937) with only one microphone but using the latest high resolution audio technology. It all feels so well suited for this music, it’s back to basics, but what a sound: nothing basic about that! Because of the one-microphone limitations AND the live concert setting of this recording, we were forced to really play: there was nowhere to hide, nothing to fix in the mix: This is what they call ‘live music’!

Recording and mastering: Frans de Rond
Produced by Reinier Voet en Jan Brouwer
Produced by Peter Bjørnild for Soundliaison
The entire cd was recorded on a Josephson C700S

Additional information

Weight 66 g

2 reviews for Ballade pour la Nuit, live in Hilversum

  1. Joe Whip

    These guys and this recording just rocks. Pace, rhythm, tone and soundstage are just off the charts. The precise placement of all four of the musicians perfectly matches the photos of the sessions.
    The balance of all four instruments is darn near perfect. It is one of the best in terms of recording quality I have ever heard.
    I think we would all agree that this recording sounds sensational.”
    – Joe Whip, Audiophile Style

  2. Cyriel Pluimakers

    This ensemble proves that this repertoire has lost none of its luster. The simply fabulous recording quality is a benchmark for the possibilities of current recording technology. It is a new benchmark. — Jazzenzo

Add a review

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.