The Hot Club Of Tenerife (named after an island in Spain) is led by Italian guitarist Filippo Dall’Asta. He began playing guitar when he was five, fell in love with the music and style of Django Reinhardt, and in his career has worked all over Europe in a variety of settings including with Stochelo Rosenberg. While his previous recording, Mediterasian, had many instrumentalists including musicians on tabla and sitar, his new album The Hot Club Of Tenerife utilizes a more conventional instrumentation with the group consisting of its leader, clarinetist Kepa Martinez, rhythm guitarist Yeray Herrera, bassist Agustin Buenafuente, and drummer Fernando Angulo. On “Not Yet, Sofia,” one of Dall’Asta’s four originals, a string quartet is added.
The main soloists throughout are Dall’Asta and clarinetist Martinez. One naturally feels the influence of Django Reinhardt and clarinetist Hubert Rostaing but there is no strict copying, Dall’Asta is inventive in the Gypsy jazz tradition and Martinez is quite fluent and has his own sound. The arrangements and frameworks are consistently colorful with occasional surprises. Most unusual is “Cherokee” which has a wordless group vocal in the melody with the bridge being taken in waltz time before it becomes a cooking feature for Martinez.
Other highlights include a swinging “After You’ve Gone,” the guitarist’s charming waltz “N
You've read three articles this month! That makes you one of a rare breed, the true jazz fan!
The Syncopated Times is a monthly publication covering traditional jazz, ragtime and swing. We have the best historic content anywhere, and are the only American publication covering artists and bands currently playing Hot Jazz, Vintage Swing, or Ragtime. Our writers are legends themselves, paid to bring you the best coverage possible. Advertising will never be enough to keep these stories coming, we need your SUBSCRIPTION. Get unlimited access for $30 a year or $50 for two.
Not ready to pay for jazz yet? Register a Free Account for two weeks of unlimited access without nags or pop ups.
Already Registered? Log In
If you shouldn't be seeing this because you already logged in try refreshing the page.