Album Review of
Plays The Music Of Pierre Baro Ferré

Written by Robert Silverstein
September 2, 2019 - 11:24pm EDT
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Fans of the venerable Gyspy Jazz sound of Django Reinhardt will be in for a musical thrill thanks to the 2018 CD release of a new album of very Django-oriented music by French guitarist Christophe Astolfi. Music fans can’t miss this album thanks to its memorable retro-flavored album cover art, which kind of harks back to the 1960s, when the music on this album was written, by the late Gypsy Jazz icon Pierre Baro Ferré. Guitarist Astolfi located a cache of unreleased musical compositions composed by Ferré and on his new album, he has recorded new versions featuring his Christophe Astolfi & Son Quartet. Perhaps the best part of this thirteen track CD is that it mixes the classic Gypsy Jazz sound with wonderful coloration from the unusual pairing of guitar with Hammond B-3 organ, string bass and drums, giving the album a kind of post bebop jazz sound that also merges waltz times and other intriguing flavors. Much like the colorful past and background of Ferré, Christophe Astolfi’s tribute to the late guitar icon is a splendid guitar treat that never fails to amaze and enchant. The CD booklet is printed in French but since all the music here is instrumental, listeners won’t have any trouble delving into Christophe Astolfi’s modern day Gypsy Jazz classic.