Dave Fertig
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Be transported to a Gypsy Jam in Paris, and bring it home!
Douce Ambience, Gypsy Jazz Classics: 2012, David Naiditch
On this most recent release from the stylistically-diverse chromatic harmonica master David Naiditch, he comes out swinging in his quintet with a spritely accordionesque tone, then he doubles, for a sound like horns, and then, finally, gives soaring string-like runs a la Grappelli.
Suddenly Gonzalo Bergara comes in with a Django-esque cascade of guitar notes, above the Paris-cobblestone-solid solid rhythm section of Jeffrey Raidaich’s guitar and Brian Netzley’s bass, and in that first song you’re transported to a “manouche” jam at a smokey café in the 14th arrondisement of Paris! When Pat Cloud’s 5-string banjo chimes in to the mix, you’re now in the provinces, with sunflowers and fresh red wine. With slight and tasty detours to the ‘States for some Gershwin, and to Spain for a bossa nova, one arrives finally at Gonzalo’s Castle, guitarist Bergara’s stately, yet comfy-like-a- blanket, homage to the magical, cinematic world of Gypsy music. It’s 2012, but it feels like a fresh day in 1936, what a treat! This is an album to play while you're - doing anything! Douce Ambience means sweet atmosphere, this is it.
The whole ensemble is spot on and at ease, but it’s the chromatic harmonica that really is at the core of this set. And although chromatic harp, in the hands of lesser players, can often sound like technical note-chasing, here Naiditch’s easy, animated chromatic brings life to old classics and a few newer originals. If this album hasn’t put you in a “Douce Ambience,” check your pulse!
-Dave Fertig, Pasadena
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Joe Ross
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Naiditch phrases with great awareness, sensitivity, taste & articulation
Are you familiar with the instrument known as the chromatic harmonica? I was first introduced to chromatic harmonica as a young teenager in 1960s when I picked up a Music Minus One LP called “Blues and All That Jazz” featuring world famous harmonica virtuoso Cham-Ber Huang from Shanghai and New York. While many learn harmonica by ear, Mr. Huang’s material was bona-fide instruction that taught such techniques as closed and open tone colors, wah-wah effect, tremolo effect, breath control vibrato, and blue tone slurs. The course provided studies in folk blues, swing blues, progressive jazz blues, harmony progressions and exercises. Mr. Huang also wrote a complete two-volume method, “The Art of Playing Chromatic Harmonica,” and he developed an instrument called the “Chordomonica” which allowed melody and harmony to be played simultaneously. He worked on developing a concert harmonica with broader dynamic range, greater volume and resonance and a wider variety of tone colors.
As a teen, Los Angeles harmonicat David Naiditch first got involved with the instrument through the playing of legendary bluesman Sonny Terry. Naiditch also has those Cham-Ber Huang LPs, along with one of him playing with a virtuoso accordion player and one of him playing with an orchestra. By the 1960s, Naiditch was teaching and performing throughout southern California. He’s clearly a guy who’s stuck with it, studied harmonica for decades, and developed his skill to a high degree of mastery. Naiditch now plays Seydel Saxony or Hohner CX-12 jazz models. I first met Naiditch in a bluegrass festival jam session and thought, “Who is this guy who’s able to hit all the notes and nuances in intricate fiddle tunes?” Turns out Naiditch is well-known in the L.A. music scene, and he’s just as comfortable with blues, country, swing, and bluegrass as he is with gypsy jazz. His eclectic 2005 album with 36 tunes is called “Harmonica and Guitar Duets.” His highly-acclaimed 2008 CD was “High Desert Bluegrass Sessions,” and in 2011 he put out a lively release called “Bluegrass Harmonica.”
When properly played, a fully chromatic instrument (capable of playing in all keys) produces a bouncy lilt that can handle even the most complicated melody and improvisations. With multi-tracking, twin harmonicas offer both melody and harmony to the opener “Tchavolo Swing,” written by Tchavolo Schmitt. Nine of the 15 tunes come from the repertoire of Django Reinhardt, and we also hear classics like George Gershwin’s “Oh, Lady Be Good” and Dorado Schmitt’s “Bossa Dorado.” The project closes with “Gonzalo’s Castle,” penned by one of the other four fine musicians on this album – lead guitarist Gonzalo Bergara. We also hear the accomplished musicianship of Pat Cloud (5-string banjo), Jeffrey Radaich (rhythm guitar), and Brian Netzley (upright bass). Bergara, Radaich and Netzley are members of The Gonzalo Bergara Quartet.
Naidtich and company are clearly well versed in the standards of gypsy jazz, and they are all very proficient, both musically and technically. Naiditch phrases with great awareness and sensitivity in taste, and his articulation is remarkable. This is a pleasing instrumental album, with some instrumentation not commonly heard in the gypsy jazz context. It works! (Joe Ross, Sun209.com)
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