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 Paul's
Audio Recordings
Hot Club Recording News
Paul and Nick will be returning to the studios in February to record some new compositions with added Bass and Violin
to capture a fuller Quintette Du Hot Club De France sound.
 Paul
Vernon Chester - Suite Django -
Musical Impressions of events in the life
of Django Reinhardt
All original tracks
written and performed by Paul Vernon Chester, accompanied by Ian Cruickshank on
rhythm and Andy Crowdy on bass and percussion.
Track Listing:
Naissence
Valse des Enfants
Flame of Destiny
Redemption
Nin-Nin - nickname
for Django's Brother Joseph - Sample Extract 2050Kb
Broad Brimmed Hat
Baro and Matelo
Hotel Claridge
Selmer Swing
American Dream
Naguine's Tears -
Django's Second Wife - Sample Extract 2050Kb
'Suite Django' was inspired by the life and music of the great gypsy guitarist
Django Reinhardt This recording is my tribute to his genius, his art,
Django is elemental now; a free spirit a true Gypsy - Paul Vernon Chester.
Alain
Antonietto on ‘Suite Django’
Paul Vernon Chester is a guitarist who, in distancing himself from the
never-ending “Tributes to Django” has found a way, with much musical
sensitivity, to evoke in a great CD the spirit, the very life even, of the
‘Great Manouche’. In composing his “Suite Django”, he has endeavoured, not to
imitate the instrumental style of ‘The Master’ (moreover Vernon Chester plays in
a delicate fashion similar to that of one Henri Crolla, for example), but rather
to relate the various stages of his life. In this way, each track refers
specifically to a precise period of Django’s musical development. Firstly his ‘
Naissance’ ( Birth in 1910) celebrated via the sonorous purity of a melody full
of newness, followed by the ‘ Waltz of the Children’, carefree and wild, a happy
young life shattered suddenly by the fire in his caravan (1928) which Paul
Vernon has interpreted through the haunting theme, ‘Flame of Destiny’, in the
style of the Spanish ‘Dance of Fire’, whereas the hesitant waltz ‘ Redemption’
relates so well the long, slow re-education process of the burnt hand of the
musician; this piece which little by little confirms the certainty of his
recovery, his emancipation being revealed through the impetus of the music as
the track progresses, showing his talent finally returning (on two fingers)-what
joy!
In this way, the whole ‘Suite Django’ CD is rich in constantly changing
landscapes. Like a film which relates the plot as it happens and where the
characters appear each in turn ‘Nin-Nin’, the little brother ‘Joseph’ of whom we
hear his guitar rhythms faithful to the Django style starting from the
wastelands of the ‘zone’ and leading them on to the luxurious night clubs of
Paris. The ‘Broad Brimmed Hat’, his first purchase, the first sign of the
whimsical expenditure, Django’s personality is captured here in an amusing
tango. Not forgetting ‘ Baro and Matelo’ of course! Gitane guitarists, members
of this well-known Tsizane atmosphere of the Russian cabarets in Paris. Equally
the legendary ‘Hotel Claridge’ where it is said, in 1936, the Quintette of the
Hot Club of France was born; on this track we hear the first real ‘jazz’ tempo
on this album. Similarly ‘Selmer Swing’, of which the long improvisation,
resonating with vibrant passion and evoking the sonority of this famous guitar
maker’s model, inseparable from the ‘Gypsy Style’.
Coming finally to the after-war years and the ‘ American Dream’ the gross
disappointment Django suffered when he toured the USA in 1946 with Duke
Ellington. Then, sadly to conclude the CD, under the guise of a coda, the
beautiful composition ‘ Tears of Naguine’ a melancholic melody dedicated to the
widow of a guitar genius who died May 16th 1953, but who even today
remains universally admired. In order to hear this tribute which comes to us
from England, second home for Django and Stephane Grapelly, ‘Suite Django’ is
available on the Fret label.
Alain Antonietto - also added
I am
enjoying 'Suite Django' more and more. It is a work which could be considered a
sonata Alain was
responsible for
recording club performances of Joseph Reinhardt in Paris - these were released
later as 'Live in Paris'
 Alain
Antonietto is the world’s pioneering historian of jazz tsigane. He
is the author of numerous articles on Romany music, a long-time contributor
to La Revue Etudes Tsiganes, and producer of albums collecting rare Gypsy
music. He is also the co-author of Django Reinhardt: Un géant sur son nuage
and Django Reinhardt: Rythmes futurs. He lives in Belleville, a Paris
quartier made famous by Django’s jazz melody of the same name
Newly Released Live Album
 
The
first Live Album release is due 6th June 07 - CD Day
'Duets for Django'
recorded at
Live @
Concert Jazz In Thame
on 14/03/07 (Paul's Birthday). This celebration may
account for the Manouche Magic captured by
Jake
Kirkpatrick at this high Quality Jazz Venue in Oxfordshire.
This High Quality Production gives great insight to Paul's compositions,
faultless technique and ability to improvise inventively on a chord structure
and his tender treatment of .slow tempo compositions.
The
attentive listening audience were so enraptured that their presence is only apparent in the enthusiastic applause at the end of each number.
A must for Manoucheries - This is professional stuff - no Bootleg productions -
all worthy of our Highest Standards.
Paul's Observations to Jake
Kirkpatrick - Sound Engineer.
.Just to let you know how delighted we are with the
final product. As anticipated the recording quality is top notch and
the packaging looks great. Love the colour scheme. Nick's guitar works
well for the tweaked volume. Notwithstanding the CD works really well. Many
thanks for your hard work Jake and I feel we have a recording that truly
reflects our performance ideals. It's only when you hear the audience at the end
of each track you realise this is a live recording! I feel the same tension that
I felt at the gig!
Very well
done mate, you know your stuff. - Paul.
 Track Listings are
Loverman
Douce Ambience
Chez Jacquet
Autumn Leaves
Lady Be Good
St Louis Blues
Mona Lisa
 Blues en Mineur
Django's Waltz
Anouman
September Song
Minor Swing
Contact Paul if you wish to order copies of any of
his CD's
Click
Here
Reviews
 Acoustic
Magazine
Dec/Jan
New Music - Duets for Django
This live recording features a dozen pieces in
the ‘gypsy jazz’ style of Django Reinhardt, and is an excellent showcase for
one of the UK’s foremost exponents of the genre. With some sympathetic backing
on rhythm, this is jazz and swing played on Manouche guitars with plenty of
soul, skill and style. Check out the video clips on his website. - Graham
Hazelwood
Gypsy Jazz Fans
Many thanks for calling in with the CD, I am very impressed and is a great
reminder of a great concert.- Martin
CD received. - I had expected it to be good, but I wasn't prepared for it to be
quite so delightful as it is. Paul Vernon Chester is probably fed up with people
paying extravagant compliments on his playing, I would be obliged if you would
pass on my congratulations on a truly masterful example of the Manouche guitar
style - John McCarte
Audience Appreciation on the
Night.
Great gig much enjoyed by all - Ade
Great gig last night. Thoroughly
enjoyed it.
Jill
We thought last night's gig was absolutely fantastic! Well done you for
getting such a magnificent duo to Thame....thank you so much. We wondered
whether a recording was being made of the event, and if so, will it
eventually be for sale, and by whom? We bought two CD's last night, but
would love to have a 'live' one in our collection - Trude & Bernard
The
concert last night was outstanding. Paul was such an unassuming guy but an
incredible artist. We were all in awe of the performance and technical
ability of the musician - you should be justly proud of presenting
Jazz concerts of this quality; thank you. Tim bought me one of the CDs
and I've just listened to it and want to find other CDs produced by
Paul. - Sheila
just to
say we really enjoyed the gig, has he ever played with Christian Garrick?
That would be awesome! Salutations, Jules.
CD DEALERS: PLEASE ENQUIRE FOR TRADE PRICES
Exclusive - Here are some tempting morsels of the off mic's
live performance @ Concert Jazz in Thame for
your delectation.
Anouman
- composed by Django - a reflective and beautiful slow tempo number.
After Your Gone
complete with mid flight apology for a
chance string break as a result of Paul's relentless attack on his guitar
Paul is also currently hard at work composing for an
imminent studio recording and hopes to expand the duo to a Quartet with the
addition of his favourite bassist Andy Crowdy and a Violinist yet to be
announced.
Paul also appears on a number of Gypsy Jazz
compilation albums alongside his fellow Luminaries of the Magical Manouche Hierarchy
 
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