Piano in gypsy jazz

Jangle_Jamie · August 17

In the monthly jam session I visit nearby, there is now a pianist playing the in-situ upright. He's good, but it's so loud that the driving la pompe is somewhat lost and soloing for guitar I'm finding difficult (though I am able to hear others, so perhaps it's my technique letting me down again!). Violins ring out fine.

I'm just wondering if anyone here plays regularly with piano, and how it fits in with gypsy swing.

BillDaCostaWilliams · August 17

I never have myself though we sometimes have piano accordeon or melodica players turn up at our jams.

I think one of the most successful examples of piano in this context is Bastien Bristot with Fanou Torracinta:

https://youtu.be/wBF5ezO8Q_Y?t=1139

billyshakes · August 17

The Rosenberg Trio played with Dutch pianist Louis Van Dijk, and it was good. They played a mix of standards and some of the more modern pop songs Stochelo likes (Moonflower, Just Relax, Bluesette, etc).

Here's the full album, cued to Minor Swing.

https://youtu.be/zHfw5kEmZuo?si=N6ChQ_Z2Uve73Jyh&t=601

Buco · August 17

Stochelo also played with Peter Beets quite a bit, it works very well

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmmXZ4E3Ukk

As for your jam volume issue, I think it's ok to ask the piano player to try to control the volume and use a softer touch. He might be doing it unconsciously because of how loud the room is.

bbwood_98 · August 17

Love the Piano in Gypsy Jazz- can work very well. I'm a also big fan of Jean-Yves who played on Hono's record (among others); and the old out of print Ritary Live record with piano on it has long been a favorite of mine (Bastien is also a killer pianist- mentioned earlier in the thread). Yes, Ask the piano to play much, much quieter especially if there are multiple rhythm guitars, but one soloist in an acoustic context. Also, ask them to comp (ideally like Count Basie) - not to play stride, or 4 to the bar- the guitars and bass should have that sonic range well covered.

Finally, here is the fabulous Ori Chen soloing on All Love with my 'Djangoland' project. https://youtu.be/U2jT3aFQ3ZQ?si=x9i8Vq9ZDXAboaXq&t=91

lucky · August 17

Stephane played piano on a few sessions with Django.

Jangle_Jamie · August 17

Nice examples, which I've heard before. They're all gigs with amplification though, whereas I'm talking an acoustic jam session. It's really a volume thing. My plan is to sit on the other side! I've been told that the corner I tend to sit in gets all the sound!!! hence my aural bombardment! (good name for a band?)

The pianist in my quartet is excellent and we're plugged in so I can adjust accordingly.

lucky · August 19

The word 'piano' is derived from the instruments original Italian name, gravecembalo col piano e forte which means 'harpsichord that can be played soft or loud' - before that, the harpsichord had no dynamics, the innovation was a keyboard instrument that could be played quietly or loudly.

Piano is Italian for soft, forte means loud. That got shortened to pianoforte (or fortepiano) and eventually just piano.

So I suggest you gently ask your piano player to shut the forte up!

Jangle_Jamie · August 19

Ha! What a great response!!!

I think I'm just moaning a bit, as the session started out as just guitars, violins and bass, with the occasional clarinet. Now it's morphing into something else. But, it's a session and everyone's welcome so maybe it's me that should shut the forte up.