Watching this amazing DVD of "Bireli Lagrene and Friends."

This concert of some of the world's best Gypsy guitarists demonstrates the benefit of left hand finger control, and resolute pick attack. Considering the whole Django "gypsy jazz" genre originated in acoustically hostile environments, these (unamplified!) guitarists fought for sonic presence midst the clanking of cappachino cups, dancers courting, and bar-room brawls over those courting. That doesn't even consider the familiar "brawl" for acoustic space with other members in the ensemble...

Not content with the European folk harmonic vocabulary established in the 19th century, Django Reinhardt propelled the chord extension up the ladder, paralleling his American jazz counterparts across the Atlantic. This made the demand for fat, articulate tone even more of a challenge. (No G-Chop here!) No piercing pure major chords, just the drama of rich but smooth dissonance!

At the time, the guitar was considered a comping "percussion" instrument. The instrument itself was not engineered for lush solo playing in the dance hall, and it was quite a battle to change it's role, but Django almost single-handedly revolutionized the way a guitar's acoustic capacity is perceived today.

Witness the strength, the control, and the determined force in the Left Hand fingers of these Gypsy pickers--amazingly, up, down and across the fingerboard. This is a terrific lesson for mandolinists, who don't have the fret stretch of a guitar, but still whimper and wince at the pain of a five fret 1st finger to pinky stretch.

Oh, and despite the pyrotechnical speed and wizardry, many of them today use a 3.0 gauge pick!

Posted by Ted at November 10, 2005 9:11 AM