PAUL
VERNON CHESTER
Manouche Maestro
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Manouche Maestro
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Paul's Audio Recordings New Duo Recording Release
'DAY OF THE MANOUCHE'.
It combines material familiar from the canon of Django's Art together with new material and melodies, less familiar. Nick and I recorded it on a day in April 2009 on a range of JWC Guitars including a nylon strung 14 fret Classic. These Guitars, made by Jeongwoo Cho, for JWC Guitars inspire and invoke the Gypsy Spirit. Track 2 is our tribute to him. In addition, our friend the veteran Jazz Guitarist Jack Toogood inspired Track 5 The variety of instruments allowed us to explore contrasts, colours, tones, textures and most importantly, mood and atmosphere. Playing essentially Manouche Music on JWC Guitars with a rhythm guitarist who is not only your cousin but your lifelong accompanist, is always a joy, indeed the whole day was a joy. It was - The Day of the Manouche! - Paul Vernon Chester
'Jeongwoos Waltz' contains Sino music scale references reminiscent of Django's Diminushing and shows how musicians can borrow and blend a theme within their own interpretation. 'Street in Samois' captures a slow strolling pace, a contemplative and poignant mood for those that still search such surroundings for the creative spirit that still inspires Django's disciples. ''How High the Moon'' swings along with Paul playing all the necessary parts to emulate the entire Stan Kenton Orchestra in full flight with only his single instrument but for Nick Mellor's rhythm accompaniment. Greig's 'Norwegian Dance' gets a slower treatment with superbly executed fast runs to contrast the composers stately dance rhythm and deliverers a dreamy quality to this much loved and familiar tune. 'Day of the Manouche' is an up tempo feast of improvisation and tireless to the ear. 'Them There Eyes' exceeds this pace and seems to build to an ever faster crescendo of dazzling and finger fatiguing runs before we are released seemingly breathless at the climax. 'Stompin at Decca' invokes the 40's era and proceeds a pace with some deft harmonics at the close. 'Variations on a Borodin Theme' stolen by plagiarising opportunists for the hit musical Kismet, shows how a familiar tune responds to inspired improvisation behind the original string quartet intention as written by this illegitimate but magnificent Russian Composer.
In all this is a wonderfully rewarding Album executed by a
Duo with finely honed
lifetime skills inspired by Django's Manouche Swing. Although it lacks the urgency and
ambience of a Live Performance it has the ability to relax the listener
completely with it's captivating spell.
Day of the Manouche - Purchase Enquiry (CD DEALERS: PLEASE ENQUIRE FOR TRADE PRICES) Paul also appears on a number of Gypsy Jazz compilation albums alongside his fellow Luminaries of the Magical Manouche Jazz Hierarchy
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Sleeve
Notes:
This
Album is a delicate delight and demonstrates Paul Vernon Chester's dexterity
and deeply emotional interpretation. It is a perfectly relaxed yet
authoritative portrayal of the qualities of this wonderful Gypsy Jazz inflected
tradition of spontaneous music with superb solo improvisations and runs from this
exponent.
