Gypsy Jazz: In Search of Django Reinhardt and the Soul of Gypsy Swing
Reviews of the hardback edition:"Dregni's passion for Django Reinhardt and the enduring overlap of gypsy music and jazz leads to a picaresque journey from the US, across modern Europe and back again. The music itself is the wandering hero as Dregni gracefully weaves together historical research, personal insights, and conversations with colorful, music-making characters. Generous, musical storytelling at its best!"-- Ashley Kahn, author ofA Love Supreme: The Story of John Coltrane's Signature Album"Dregni writes as Django played: lyrical, inventive, engaging and often undeniably brilliant. WithGypsy Jazzhe shines light upon the 'holes in history' that have so long obscured this most celebrated yet mysterious arena of Romany music. An astonishing text."--Garth Cartwright, author ofPrincesAmongst Men: Journeys With Gypsy Musicians"In this fascinating picaresque adventure into European gipsy culture, Michael Dregni not only discovers much hitherto undocumented information about the background to the great manouche guitarist Django Reinhardt, but also about his musical and social forbears, contemporaries and heirs. Dregni's sparky prose and fervent enthusiasm enliven his search, which always comes back to the music itself, in which he finds, alongside the influence of American jazz, a timeless romani wistfulness, the lingering melancholy of an itinerant people."--Alyn Shipton, Jazz critic ofThe Times, London, and author ofA New History of Jazz"A highly original book that's part history, part detective story and part travelogue...Dregi does a beautiful job tracking down the details and making the people and music come alive.Gypsy Jazzis an important and delightful addition to the ongoing story of Gypsy jazz, and provides an essential bridge to this fascinating people and their culture." --All About Jazz