Comments

• dennis Montreal, QuebecModerator

  March 2005 Posts: 2,161

  here's my honest opinion: I dont actually own any method books except gypsy picking which michael generously sent me but i got to check out most of them through friends.
  
  i saw the robin book, it's good for absolute beginners (both to this style and improvisation in general) but it's based more on robin's approach to gypsy jazz than django's ... at the same time the licks that i checked out are quite basic which is why i said it's more suited for beginning improvisors
  
  michael hasn't published any django licks books, but the transcriptions at the end of his gypsy picking book contain licks that are more "standard" to the django style... and it includes the picking indications which is quite important if you want to get the traditional sound
  
  i believe andreas is working on a book of some of the flashier licks played by the dutch gypsies.
  
  stephane wrembel's book has a lot of licks too although a lot of them are also based on his personal style (which is still nonetheless closer to the traditional style than robin)... i really like his concepts and he's one of my favorite players in this style. I am also a big fan of Robin Nolan for those who are about to misinterpret everything i write and bash me....
  
  in the end it depends on what you are ultimately looking for, they all have something to offer, and therefore from a general point of view, neither is better than the other....

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• drolling New

  March 2005 Posts: 153

  Hi Major7,
  
  There are 2 of these books out there with very similar titles. I have the one that contains licks for 'Minor Swing', 'Dark Eyes', 'Douce Ambience', 'Djangology' and 'Sweet Georgia Brown'.
  
  I am curious about the new one called ‘Essential Gypsy jazz licks, vol. 1’. It looks very different from the rest of the series and is not available at their website. This one has licks for ‘Minor Blues’, ‘Gypsy Blues’, ‘Daphne’, ‘Lady Be Good’ and ’Nuages’.
  
  Which one do you have?
  
  Thanks,
  dr
• Major7 New

  March 2005 Posts: 14

  This is the one with Minor Swing, Dark Eyes Djanolology and Sweet Ga Brown.
  I cant say enough good stuff about this book: I leaning great rythms and cool licks to use in a jam.
  Major7
• Major7 New

  March 2005 Posts: 14

  Check your book again, I think the one you have is:
  
  The Gypsy Jazz Songbook and Play Along CD Volume2.
  
  This has the tunes you mentioned. The one I have is Licks. This has arpeggio based licks in the style of Minor Swing ...
  
  
  M7
• djangology Portland, OregonModerator

  March 2005 Posts: 1,018

  yes, Robins licks book is excellent, especially when you come from the point of view of soloing with the CAGED system... there is a lot to learn from the lick patterns he presents if you look hard enough and read between the notes... so I agree but your statement that the licks book is a good book is an understatement...
• drolling New

  March 2005 Posts: 153

  Major7 you and I have the same book.
  
  The one I was wondering about is here;
  
  http://www.hotclub.co.uk/~rnolan/catalo ... ucts_id=35
• Major7 New

  March 2005 Posts: 14

  You are very observant. I guess there are two books with nearly the same name.
  
  1) Gypsy Jazz Licks Songbook and Playalong CD Vol 1
  
  2) Essential Gypsy Jazz Licks Songbook and Playalong CD Vol 1
  
  Why couldn't he just call it VOLUME 2 ????
  
  Make me wonder about these guitar players...,.
• Charlie Ayers Salt Lake CityProdigy

  May 2005 Posts: 287

  I think the first one that you list was written with Paul Meader, before Robin altered his business and started his new website (which appear to be independent of Paul M.).
  
  The 2nd one was published under his new company name, as are his newer CDs. That's my take on it, anyway.......
  
  Charlie