Search - Hot Club of San Francisco, Isabelle Fontaine, Pazzo and the Hotheads :: Hot Club Cool Yule - featuring the Hot Club of San Francisco

Just the ticket for holiday music on Hot Club Cool Yule. - C

Isabelle Magidson | SF Bay Area | 12/14/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Hot Club Jazz is just the ticket for holiday music on Hot Club Cool Yule. The Hot Club of San Francisco renders acoustically impotent the bombastic electric offerings of Mannheim Steamroller and Trans-Siberian Orchestra with the flick of a guitar pick and violin bow. Gratefully, authentic musicianship trumps even the best technique. Instead of one more anemic "White Christmas," the HCSF opt for a hot take on Duke Ellington's interpretation of "The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies" ("Sugar Rum Cherry") and Victor Herbert's "March of the Toys."



A medley of "Carol of the Bells" and Vince Guaraldi's "Skating" make a breezy way early on. A warm "Baby, Its cold Outside" features Duo Gadjo (Isabelle Fontaine and Jeff Magidson) and Evan Price on octave violin. The spiritual "I Wonder as I Wander" receives a very European string trio treatment very successfully by guest violinist Deborah Price, violist Marcel Gemperli and cellist Eric Gaensten.



Guitarist Paul Mehling shines in his solos on "I'll be Home for Christmas," "The Christmas Song," and "Auld Lang Syne. Evan Price's violin is given even exposure, the two men playing as if made for one another. This recording benefits from expert musicianship by musicians obviously having much fun, which simply adds to the joyfulness of a wonderfully lively disc."

Tired of the same old thing? This'll make your Holiday Parti

Renata Barone | Marin, CA | 11/17/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I found this review on BC Music written by Derek Emerson Nov 16, 09. Oh and this CD is also part of the The New York Times 2009 Christmas Guide.

this makes a great gift for music lovers and those that like something a little different. And it is PERFECT for parties. Don't celebrate Christmas? That's OK this CD fits the bill whether you celebrate Solstice, Chanukah, Christmas or Kwanzaa. Your friends will think you quite the Bohemian!



Written by Derek Emerson

Another Christmas recording? As certain as the rising of the Christmas tree is the annual release of a plethora of Christmas recordings from a variety of artists and genres. Classical guitar for Christmas? No problem. An accordion fan? Relax to Rudolph on the squeezebox. "Fill in the name" pop star doing the standards? Several available for your choosing. So here comes the Hot Club of San Francisco to add some gypsy jazz from the smoke filled bars of ...uh...San Francisco to the mix?



But relax. Here is a Christmas recording offering something a bit different and worth listening to in the midst of the season. The Hot Club of San Francisco may not be a mainstream ensemble, but they are generally considered one of the best gypsy jazz groups in the U.S. For those not familiar with the genre, gypsy jazz is an acoustic, guitar-dominated format created by the incredible guitarist Django Reinhardt with violinist Stephane Grappelli in the smoky bars of Paris in the 1930s. The name of their group was the Quintette du Hot Club de France, and gypsy jazz groups often attach the "Hot Club" title to their own city. The quintet arrangement holds with the Hot Club of San Francisco which is led by guitarist Paul Mehling and violinist Evan Price, along with bassist Clint Baker, and rhythm guitarists Jeff Magidson and Jason Vanderford.



Mehling's gift as a leader has been to honor tradition while not being afraid of stretching the genre. In this recording he clearly moves beyond the normal library and also employs several guest singers and other ensembles to offer some new sounds. The result is a wide ranging, but solid, recording of a variety of Christmas classics. The quintet takes on Vince Guaraldi's "Skating" from "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and pairs it with the traditional "Carol of the Bells," and then soon jumps to "Baby, It's Cold Outside."



While gypsy jazz music is not afraid of the scorching solos, it also relishes the slow, quiet rhythms of the late night. At times it is a bit too slow ("The Christmas Song"), but when balanced with the moving Applachian song, "I Wonder As I Wander," you can hear the power of the slower sound.Those looking for the upbeat sounds which have captivated so many listeners will not be disappointed. Mehling's arrangement of "Jingle Bells," here called "Djingle Bells" in homage to Reinhardt, is a gem which should be a new Christmas standard. Even "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" benefits from gypsy sound as it finds new life in this rendition. They even manage to add a great deal of life to the difficult to like traditional song, "March of the Toys." These songs feature the Hot Club of San Francisco without their guests and the comfort of the band is clear -- they have a lot of musical fun with one another which shows a camaraderie extending beyond the music. They also extend the tradition with the best over-seven-minute version of "Auld Lang Syne" you may ever hear.



That this CD is successful comes as no surprise since the basis is five excellent musicians. Mehling is a gifted guitarist with an ear for the soulful and the skill to pull off some blistering solos bound to make most guitarists give up in frustration. Price is equally talented as a violinist and can either blend in the background or drive a song forward at will. But gypsy jazz also needs a strong rhythm section, especially since it does not include any drums. The percussive and bass sounds are amply handled by Baker, Magidson, and Vanderford.



So in the midst of the holiday chaos grab this CD to get a respite from the rush. Or if you know someone with an openness to some unique musical sounds, you have a stocking stuffer at hand. You are not likely to find this is mainstream CD outlets, but it is worth the internet search."