Album Notes

Orkest Polytour was formed to further dig into the gypsy jazz and musette styles. This "king-sized" juggling of melody, rhythm and vocals bring us eighteen cuts of danceable swinging jewels, including Reinhardt tunes, originals, and French standards. The vocals are stylized for the material and the whole effect is best imagined if one fanaticizes listening to this group live in a sidewalk café on the Left Bank. [Don't leave out the wine and les Femmes] We don't have enough fun these days. Orkest Polytour will crank the hands of time back a bit to a period of swinging fun filled music. Take the tour with them.
Just Jazz Guitar Frank Forte. USA

Desire a lilting melody in your heart? Seek out "Le Roi des jongleurs." Polytour plays Hot Club jazz à la Django/Grappelli - tipping their hats to the masters with a cover of "Djangology?" The recording is filled with great songs from the 1930s and 40s, kicking off with Georges Brassens' "J'ai rendez-vous avec vous" and slowing tempo a bit with les Feuilles Mortes" (which contains the melody for the tune we Americans know as "September Song*(*is not right. Autumn Leaves , J.P.G)"), Jean Pierre Guiran sings these chansons in French, but also includes a nice sprinkling of instrumentals ("My Blue Heaven"). Beautiful guitar solos are the hallmark of this recording. A touch of accordion gives it that Gallic je ne sais quois. DIRTY LINEN, USA

Call it a fancy dance step back in time. The Dutch band Polytour play old-days musette, jazz manouche, and chansons that take you on a waltz into years past.
Led by accordionist Jean Pierre Guiran and guitarist Jan de Jong, the quartet unreels a lively, joyous sound on their first compact disc. It's the perfect music for an evening beer at a cafe.
Songs on the album includes a bouncing cover of Django Reinhardt's "Djangology" and a sweet rendition of musetteers Joseph Colombo and Tony Murena's "L'Indifference." French chanson is represented by several songs by Georges Brassens, Charles Trenet, and Yves Montand. The disc closes with Guiran's original "Polytour" and de Jong's "Lucia."
Michael Dregni, Vintage Guitar Magazine, USA