He has a beautifully clear, fluid and playful sound that dances its way through these pieces and leaves you hanging on every phrase
Stunt Records STUCD25042 (CD), STULP25041 (LP)
Giacomo Smith (clarinet, alto saxophone); Mozes Rosenberg (guitar); Remi Oswald (rhythm guitar); William Brunard (bass)
Recorded at Durham Sound Studios, London in May 2023
They say that smiling can extend your life. If so, then listening to this album may come with potential health benefits, because you just cannot help but smile from start to finish. This is mostly music in the Jazz Manouche style, developed and popularised by the great French Sinti guitarist, Jean ‘Django’ Reinhardt (French Sinti being a subgroup of the Romani people and who speak of themselves as “Manouche”).
Many recordings have been made of Django’s music, and this album includes a number of classics. But what sets this project apart is not just the musicianship, which is at times startling, but the contemporary interpretations and arrangements that are delivered with a freshness and enthusiasm which is infectious.
Born in Italy and raised in upstate New York, Giacomo Smith has been part of the London jazz scene for over 10 years. In 2013 he helped found Kansas Smitty’s House Band with their own take on classic jazz genres, releasing a number of impressive albums together. He is a regular performer at Ronnie Scott’s, leading his own big band there in December 2024. And he recently appeared as soloist with the BBC Concert Orchestra in a special broadcast, ‘Paris in the Jazz Age’, which included pieces by Ellington and Reinhardt.
Smith is heard mostly on clarinet. He has a beautifully clear, fluid and playful sound that dances its way through these pieces and leaves you hanging on every phrase. He is joined by the highly impressive Mozes Rosenberg on guitar, just rippling with energy and technique (himself, Dutch Sinti and related to Django); together with Remi Oswald on rhythm guitar and William Brunard on bass.
The players are always on the move with an upbeat and lively tone. A fast and uplifting ‘After You’ve Gone’ opens the album with some delightful toing and froing between Smith and Rosenberg. Smith shows elegant flourishes to his lines on ‘Begin the Beguine’, often skipping around the melody, which quickens and slows to great effect, allowing space for exquisite waves of Rosenberg’s guitar.
‘Beijinhos’, one of two originals (this one written with Adrian Cox), has a vibrant Spanish flamenco flavour that emerges behind Smith’s sunny theming. ‘Embraceable You’, another standard, is taken slower, providing a familiar framework for Smith and Rosenberg’s leisurely explorations on clarinet and guitar, which are a joy, and it all ends too soon.
‘Mr Tom’, the other original on the album, has a swinging, blues feel, where Smith brings a cheeky, peek-a-boo phrasing to this playful piece. ‘Festival 48’ (the only piece on the album written by Django) is a blast, brimming with excitement with wonderful solos from Smith and Rosenberg.
‘The Sheik of Araby’ is another highlight, where the players build momentum and excitement in a thrilling dash to the finish. The pacy and bouncing ‘Tiger Rag’ is another high intensity number, slowly brought to an energetic boil and a great one to finish on.
And how do you feel after hearing this album? A lingering smile will probably say it all.
