It’s a joyful ride filled with technical brilliance from start to finish.
Tupelo Productions
Filippo Dall’Asta – Lead Guitar; Kepa Martinez – Clarinet, Vocals (track 10); Yeray Herrera – Rhythm Guitar; Agustin Buenafuente – Double Bass; Fernando Angula – Drums; Ada Kwaśniewicz – 1st Violin; Krzysztof Katana – 2nd Violin; Aldona Trybulec – Viola; Monika Würsten – Cello
Filippo Dall’Asta is an Italian-born guitarist, composer, bandleader, and arranger who blends the vibrant sounds of Gypsy jazz with bebop and classical music, creating his own distinctive style of progressive guitar playing. He started playing the guitar at the age of five and went on to study his instrument not only in his native Italy but also in Germany, France, Holland, and India.
Throughout his career, he has toured and recorded with a wide range of artists, including Stochelo Rosenberg, Lollo Meier, John Wheatcroft, Tara Minton, Mehboob Nadeem, and many others. He’s played at prestigious venues such as The Royal Albert Hall, the House of Parliament, the Tower of London, and Union Chapel, as well as numerous festivals across France and Italy.
Dall’Asta’s 2018 debut MEDITERASIAN was praised by LA Music Critic Awards as “one of the best instrumental albums of the year.” With a nod to Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli’s legendary Quintette du Hot Club de France, he named his latest album, THE HOT CLUB OF TENERIFE, furthering his modern take on Gypsy Jazz, blending it with global musical influences and contemporary jazz.
The album kicks off with the well-known song from 1918 ‘After You’ve Gone, ’and right away, the rhythm guitar’s la pompe grabs you with the percussive strumming technique that gives gypsy jazz a fast swing feeling. Kepa Martínez’s clarinet dazzles with dynamic phrasing, while Dall’Asta’s guitar echoes Django Reinhardt’s blend of fiery technique, flair and soulful expressiveness.
There’s a vocal chorus at the beginning of Ray Noble’s 1938 Cherokee. While it may have been added to give a modern touch, it feels unnecessary. The real magic comes from the ensemble, with everyone playing beautifully. Dall’Asta plays with blazing technique. He has a distinct warm tone and his articulation is crystal clear and crisp. For me, Kepa Martinez’s clarinet is a highlight; he has this full-bodied warm and woody sound that just draws you in. Augustin Buenafuente’s bass has a deep resonant tone and it sounds great locked in with the rhythm guitar’s strumming patterns.
Dall’Asta isn’t afraid to mix jazz manouche with other musical genres. In Bobby Vinton’s ‘Lonely, ’Kepa Martinez sets down the clarinet to sing an impressive Spanish version of the song.
George Gershwin’s ‘The Man I Love ’receives a jaunty Gypsy jazz makeover, with the clarinet and guitar playfully trading phrases back and forth. Meanwhile Buenafuente lays down a terrific walking bass line that adds depth and drive to the track.
THE HOT CLUB OF TENERIFE is grounded in the Gypsy jazz sound of the 30’s and early 40’s with a number of modern twists. It’s a joyful ride filled with technical brilliance from start to finish.
