Despite the name The New Orleans Swinging Gypsies aren't a Hot Club group, but they are more influenced by Django than most of the local New Orleans fare. It comes through in the vigorousness of their playing. Classic era bebop and the most creative small group swing are also part of an uncategorizable sound that is soulful, musically impressive, and pleasing from the dance floor or the corner table. They have weekly gigs at several New Orleans hotspots including Fritzel's, The Maison, and Bamboulas.
Their latest album, Hot Boudin, is a step up for the band. Recorded at Esplanade Studios and produced by the Grammy Award winning Randy Crafton they knew they had a creative moment to capture and pulled out all the stops. Like any good band the sound has evolved to follow the interests of the artists involved, but their growth across three albums since 2015 is truly impressive.
Their last album, Swing 17, was on my review list but I never got to it. My first impression then was of a high quality modern swing group geared towards young dancers with an understandable, if only occasional, gypsy guitar focus. Listening back to it now, and to their shorter 2015 debut there is a consistency, they've simply honed what was unique about them until it became instantly recognizable as their own with Hot Boudin.
I asked founder and guitarist John Saavarda about that sound:
"The New Orle
