GERI Maurizio Swingtet
Manouche e dintorni

Fy 8010

8021750801022
Dunya Records
Italia

 

Known as the guitarist of Riccardo Tesi’s BandaItaliana with whom he has toured in various European countries, here for the first time GERI has the possibilities to show us his skill and love for the Gypsy music of Central Europe: Manouche.
In the linear notes of the CD GERI writes:« I approached the Manouche style when I first heard the Django Reinhardt records (he is also Manouche) and was astonished by the variety of timbre and expressive resources that came out of that guitar: fast swing rhythms overlapped by solos that fluctuated from gentle to frenetic, sustaining a dexterity that has always been present in Rom music». But GERI has been able not only to absorb the typical features of the Manouche and French swing style but also to carry on the tradition. As the title Manouche e dintorni - Manouche and surroundings - wants indicate.
In the repertoire of the SWINGTET we can find some classics from Reinhardt (Nuages, Tears and a medley with Daphne and Djangology) compositions from the Italian way to Swing from the thirties and forties (Crapa Pelata by G. Kramer, Speranze Perdute by Morelli) and some new compositions that enlarge the panorama of GERI’s musical interests (Rapido per Algeri, Sogno di valzer). The band sees beside GERI’s guitar two more guitars (Leonardo Boni and Luca Giovacchini), a violin (Chris Brashear) and a double-bass (Nicola Vernuccio) - The typical instrumentation of the golden era of the Manouche and French Swing. In some tracks special guests are Riccardo Tesi - on melodeon - the Klaus Lessman’s clarinet and Ettore Bonafe’ on percussion.

... per danzar ci vuol ritmo, per cantar ci vuol swing. Solo così puoi sentire ciò che non si può dir; per goder del piacer che ti fa cantar, cantar, sì ... Per l’amor ci vuol ritmo, per il cuor ci vuol swing...
(... to dance you need rhythm, to sing you need swing. That’s the only way you can feel what can’t be put into words, to enjoy the pleasure that makes you sing, sing, yeah .... For love you need rhythm, for the heart you need swing...).