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Harmonious Wail: Gypsy Swing
ByHarmonious Wail is a Midwestern quartet from Madison, Wisconsin. Formed in 1987, the group has specialized in the gypsy swing of Reinhardt, Grappelli, and others. On Gypsy Swing, the group concentrates on jazz standards interpreted by Reinhardt and Grappelli and adds a single effective Reinhardt composition, "Minor Swing." From the Reinhardt/Grappelli songbook spring "St. Louis Blues," "Rose Room," "Sheik of Arby," and "Like House Blues" all performed with that Sinti Gypsy flair for dramatic and passionate music. On the vocal selections, Maggie Delaney-Pott delivers the goods with sensuous obtuseness, leaving just enough room for you to wonder if her seduction is sincere or if she is merely playing with you (just check out "St. Louis Blues" and a frenetic "After You’ve Gone"). Sims Delaney-Potthoff peppers the music with Jethro Burns-inspired mandolin and doubles on the tenor guitar.
Gypsy Swing is joyful music with the attic scent of melancholia. It sounds at once fresh and dated, nostalgia clinging when we the listeners, have no reason for nostalgia. Powerful and provocative, this is dense and pleasing music well played.
For more information, see Harmonious Wail and Naxos World Records .
Track Listing
Moscow Nights; Two Guitars/Gypsy Campfire; I?m Always Chasing Rainbows; Valse Samois; Some Of These Days; Czardas St. Louis Blues; The Basso; Rose Room; Dark Eyes; Limehouse Blues; Swing Gitan; Chason Pour Henri; Sheik Of Araby; Bossa Dorado; After You?ve Gone; Minor Swing; Ballgame.
Personnel
Harmonious Wail
band / ensemble / orchestraSims Delaney-Potthoff: Mandolin, Tenor Guitar; Maggie Delaney-Pott: Vocals, Cardboard Box; Tom Waselchuk: Guitars; Henry Boehm?Bass; Randy Hoecherl: Violin; Brian Erikson? Accordion; Todd Stewart: Drums, Percussion.
Album information
Title: Gypsy Swing | Year Released: 2003 | Record Label: Naxos
Comments
About Harmonious Wail
Instrument: Band / ensemble / orchestra
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