Django Reinhardt in his Hot Club of Paris phase has been increasingly the point of reference to a select but growing body of outfits dedicated to hot swing. One of the very best out there is Les Doigts de l'Homme, as heard in their new CD 1910 (Alma 61412). They have the patent chunk-chunk-chunk-chunk foursquare acoustic rhythm guitar backdrop down pat. Layered overtop is some excellent lead, sometimes doubled up for two-part duet pyrotechnics in the arranged realm, other times pure single-acoustic kick.
Olivier Kikteff is responsible for the Danjangoesque solos and he is quite impressive in that role. The repertoire covers a number of songs done by Django, some standards, and some surprises. Throughout the groups honors the master by showing that they can grow the style again today, incorporate some of the present into it, and generally play the heck out of whatever they attempt.
It's irrepressibly fabulous Djangology. Django would be proud. By the way 1910 refers to the year of Reinhardt's birth. That would make him 101. He lives on here.
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