Tchavolo Schmitt is a Strasbourg-based guitar virtuoso, a latter-day master of the jazzy French manouche (Gypsy) swing style made famous by Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt. He was born in 1954 into a family of musi... more »cians and was soon a fixture at jam sessions, bistros, and parties. He became a legendary figure but made very few recordings, despite some notable festival appearances. Here the world-famous guitarist Romane sits in, along with Philippe "Doudou" Cuillerier on second rhythm guitar, Gilles Natural on acoustic bass, Ionica Minune on accordion, and Florin Niculescu on violin, all of whom are beyond wonderful. Schmitt prefaces each riff with an indrawn hiss of breath, audibly engrossed in making his strings speak and moving deep within the improvisations of his colleagues. He's a real pro. The album includes three CD-ROM videos that further explain what the fuss is about. --Christina Roden« less
Tchavolo Schmitt is a Strasbourg-based guitar virtuoso, a latter-day master of the jazzy French manouche (Gypsy) swing style made famous by Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt. He was born in 1954 into a family of musicians and was soon a fixture at jam sessions, bistros, and parties. He became a legendary figure but made very few recordings, despite some notable festival appearances. Here the world-famous guitarist Romane sits in, along with Philippe "Doudou" Cuillerier on second rhythm guitar, Gilles Natural on acoustic bass, Ionica Minune on accordion, and Florin Niculescu on violin, all of whom are beyond wonderful. Schmitt prefaces each riff with an indrawn hiss of breath, audibly engrossed in making his strings speak and moving deep within the improvisations of his colleagues. He's a real pro. The album includes three CD-ROM videos that further explain what the fuss is about. --Christina Roden
CD Reviews
Gipsy swing
melodius | Brussels Belgium | 11/15/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Say, you've known Django Reinhardt's music for years and suddenly, it means something to you. As a matter of fact, you're quite obsessed with Django and you listen to his music every other day. Well, that's what happened to me. I started to get curious about "Django's heirs", most of them Manouche gypsies who have made his music theirs. Yes, that's right, Django actually created the folk music of his people, probably the only time this ever happened. Anyway, I have listened to a lot of people, and there are some wonderful guitarist out there : Romane, Stochelo Rosenberg, Bireli Lagrène, Angelo Debarre, Patrick Saussois... But my favorite is Tchavolo Schmitt, who I first heard in Tony Gatlif's wonderful movie, Latcho Drom, with his brother Dorado.Finally - all praise to Romane ! - Tchavolo has recorded his first album as a leader, "Alors ? ... Voilà !" (and then a second one, "Miri Familia", which apparently is not yet released in the USA). Tchavolo is this very rare musician who combines energy, virtuosity and taste. And he doesn't try to imitate Django, on the contrary, he has his own, very recognizable sound.Most compositions are by Romane; one of them is called "D'accord Woody" (OK, Woody). According to the liner notes, Romane feels that Woody Allen should have asked Tchavolo to play the music of "Sweet and Low Down". Well, after all, the character in the movie is supposed to be the second best, so that makes sense...I particularly appreciate the presence of an accordeonist in this recording, it gives a nice "musette" sound to the music. By the way, ALL the musicians who play on this CD are awesome. It's interesting to compare this record with "Miri Familia", a collection of standards played by a more conventional band (well, if you can call the best "conventional"...) consisting of guitars and bass.Alors, why should you listen to this music ? ... Cause it's one of the hardest swinging records you ever heard, Voilà why !"
Meet the greatest gipsy guitar player !
JEAN-MARIE JUIF | BESANCON France | 09/05/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Tchavolo Schmitt ,aged 48, is a legend and god for many years to all european gipsy players.Born in Paris,France,1954,Tchavolo lives in Strasbourg,east of France,since 1979.He sometimes plays in bars,and gives a few concerts;he recorded another CD under his name,two years ago ("miri familia"),and is also featured in three other CDs: Mandino Reinhardt's "note manouche","gipsy reunion swing '93",with Dorado Schmitt,and "swing",the soundtrack of Tony Gatlif's new movie (2001).But Tchavolo never tried to become a star,and have a great musical career;that's why he appears so rarely; too bad for us!
I was lucky enough to be here for a concert,late August,in which Tchavolo played with Mandino Reinhardt and his brother,Sony Reinhardt.I already knew his music,but the concert really knocked me out.There are other great gipsy guitar players in France and Germany: Angelo Debarre,Moreno Winterstein,Mandino,Hans'che Weiss,Fapy Lafertin,Raphael Fays,Lulu Reinhardt,Coco Briaval,and great non-gipsies players too,like Romane or Francis-Alfred Moerman,but Tchavolo really is the greatest.You'll realize it when you'll listen to his music.
In this session,Tchavolo plays with Romane and Doudou Cuillerier,Gilles Naturel on bass,the great Florin Niculescu on violin,and a marvelous accordion player,Ionica Minune.On track 11,Tchavolo plays with Thomas Dutronc,the son of french singer and actor Jacques Dutronc,and Ninine.Ninine,69 years old,is the spirit of "La chope des Puces",a small bar in Paris,where gipsy musicians play every Saturday and Sunday.Ninine and his son Mondine,are the "home musicians" of this place for many years.
The music of this CD includes several compositions by Tchavolo and Romane,two american standards,"it had to be you" and "all of me",which are very often played by french gipsies,and "j'attendrai"("I'll be waiting for you"),an old french song that Django used to play.This record is one of the best examples of this very original jazz form,created some 70 years ago by Django Reinhardt,and the Ferret brothers:Baro,Matlo and Sarane.If you know what swing means,then this album is for you.There is a special bonus track (number 12),which will offer you the opportunity to see parts of the rehearsals on your computer (PC or Mac). Enjoy it !!!"
Tchavolo schmitt "alors...voila"
Ellen M. Carnahan | Darien, CT USA | 10/23/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a fine CD featuring seldom recorded Manouche guitarist, Tchavolo Schmitt. Most of the music is composed and arranged by Romane, with a couple of standards (All of Me, If I Had You) thrown in, on which Tchavolo shines. In the summer of 2000 Django Reinhardt Festival in Samois, a few of the featured groups played the very groovy "Tchavolo Swing", most notably performed by Dorado and Tchavolo Schmitt in the film "Latcho Drom". On this new CD, we finally get to hear this sparsely recorded master play at length after all these years. The real star of this recording is fiddler Florin Niculescu, a sideman on several recordings by Romane, and who gets about as many solo opportunities on this CD as Tchavolo does. He is probably the finest jazz fiddler in the world today, and his solos on this recording show why. This production has "Romane" written all over it, which means that it is very well done, and that the material is fresh. For the chance to hear Tchavolo, Florin Niculescu, and accordionist Ionica Minune, the CD is a must. And although the dialogue is in French, there are 15 minutes or so of interesting conversation and jamming between Tchavolo and Romane."
All Musicians Should Have This (And Everyone Else...)
Art Bakert | Ithaca, NY USA | 01/25/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is some of the best guitar playing you can find (really, this can be said for all the instrumental playing on this CD) - tasteful yet virtuosic, sometimes showy but always true to the spirit of the music. If you're in France and manage to catch Tchavolo live at a Cafe', then you would be blessed (I would certainly like to have that opportunity). In lieu of that, get yourself this CD and enjoy. Let's also hope that his brother Dorado gets a CD out to the masses..."
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1