Search - Koen De Cauter :: Pays Tribute to the Music of Georges Brassens

Vintage Guitar Magazine Review

11/06/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Belgian guitarist and saxman Koen de Cauter is a musical style all his own. Whether he's playing Gypsy jazz, New Orleans swing, flamenco, musette, or the songs of French hero Georges Brassens, de Cauter signs the music with his own signature. First and foremost, de Cauter often plays music at a slower tempo than most, whether it's Django Reinhardt's blazing hot jazz or a flamenco fandango. His tempo allows de Cauter to emphasize the inherent musicality of a piece, offering a welcome respite from the modern world's hustle and bustle. His own compositions often ride on bittersweet, melancholy melodies highlighted by Zen-like solos that are brilliant in their simplicity and creativity. De Cauter grew up around Gypsies in Belgium, and so it comes as little surprise that many of his musical endeavors have focused on Gypsy music. In his youth, he played in the famous band of Gypsy violinist Piotto Limberger before creating the stellar Gypsy swing group Waso in 1975 with Gypsy guitarists Fapy Lafertin and Piotto's son, Vivi. Since then, he has played with avant-garde bandoneonist Dick van der Harst, Patrick Saussois's Alma Sinti emsemble, and several solo projects. De Cauter's tribute to Georges Brassens is a similarly laid-back production. The songs are all in French, but the musical melodies and de Cauter's fine guitar, sax, and clarinet work is international in appeal."