New Tunes

Continuing on this Gypsy theme, I've been learning some new tunes lately. All three in the French Musette genre, they are challenging my understanding of the dulcimer and of music in general. It's really enjoyable stretching out of my familiar Irish Trad domain. It's also enjoyable because it allows me to return to some of my percussion roots, because this style is more closely related to jazz.

Musette is a style of waltz that is associated with cafes in Paris. Often, these cafes were owned by people from the rural region of Auvergne. They would hold dances at these cafes, from which the musette was essentially born. The music is influenced by Paris, the Auvergne region, and also the Manouche gypsies that found work in these cafes. The gypsy connection with American Jazz through the influential playing of Django Reinhardt is what gives these quaint little waltzes their "jazzy" feel. The gypsy influence also provides the dark, minor scales, that these tunes often reside in.

Anyway, I've been working on three musettes:

Java Manouche, which I'm learning from a seminal LP of Jazz Manouche by Gypsy accordionist Jo Privat (I believe a 'Java' is a specific dance. No relation to coffee).

Beritwaltz, by Richard Galliano, an Italian accordionist who mixes Musette seamlessly with Tango and other forms.

Annie-Zette is the third tune, which I first heard on the "Paris Musette" compilation CD. It's a great, rare find. I heard it likened to the Buena Vista Social Club of French Musette. The recordings capture old masters playing alongside a new breed of musicians, carrying on the tradition. Annie-zette can also be heard on Swing Gitan's first recording.

Hopefully, with enough time in the woodshed, I'll be playing these out soon.

Gypsy

For the last few weeks I've been listening to the amazing cymbalist, Giani Lincan, in a concert recording with gypsy jazz guitarist, Tchavolo Schmitt. Tchavolo was featured in the movie, Latcho Drom.

Giani Lincan's cymbalom playing has pretty much convinced me I need a new dulcimer, one that is chromatic and has dampeners. Check it out to hear some unbelievable gypsy swing on a cousin of the hammered dulcimer.

The recording is available in a series of mp3 files here. The tracks with Giani are "Piste 9" through "Piste 13". Hope you enjoy.

Beritwaltz

This past weekend was a gig-free weekend, which is nice every once in a while. My wife and I had a great time celebrating our anniversary. Last Wednesday I played at the Milwaukee Farmer's Market. It was an enjoyable way to spend a weekday morning, even though it was a grey, drizzly day.

So, I've recently been revisiting a tune that I started learning back in the Spring on the dulcimer. It's a musette composed by jazz accordianist, Richard Galliano, entitled "Beritwaltz". For those who aren't familiar, a musette is a sort of French cafe melody, usually in waltz time, usually with three parts. I think (feel free to correct me) that the first and second parts are typically minor, and then the third part jumps gleefully into a major key. Anyway, this tune in particular is exciting because it slips in and out of 6/8 and 3/4 time signatures rather effortlessly creating a cool poly-rhythmic illusion. Those who know I grew up playing drums can imagine why this appeals to me. I've always been a big fan of odd time signatures and creative ways to play with time. This also explains my love for Les Aires Tordus Quebecois.

In other news, I'll be guest hosting a Celtic music radio show with Jonathan Whitall on WHPK radio, Sunday 10/23 at 9PM. It's 88.5 FM if you happen to be within blocks of the Hyde Park neighborhood in Chicago (not much in the wattage dept. from what I understand). Should be a good time, spinning some rare stuff from Quebec and more.

I will be sending out a show update on my email list soon. Hope to see you all soon!!