Gypsy Swing Archives - Shuffle Projects

I just realised that this is the first Song of the Week coming from Switzerland and it's a song, which title is requested a lot, when I'm spinning it for dancers.

Erich Nussbaum (born 11.12.1953) is a rhythm and lead guitarist. There is not much information available about him. He is a self-made man who arranges and produces his CDs himself.

Postcard To Fere is a self-composed song in the gypsy swing tradition inspired by Django Reinhardt & Stéphane Grappelli. It is a greeting to Fere Scheidegger, another Swiss guitarist and bandleader of Fere's Hot Strings.

Line-Up: Erich Nussbaum – guitar, Bernhard Suter – violin, Paul Buchmeier – bass.

I love this song and I play it all the time for Balboa dancers!

Title: Postcard To Fere
Artist: Erich Nussbaum
Recorded: 2004
Album: A Touch Of Swing
Tempo: 192 bpm
Dance: Balboa, Lindy Hop

Click the link to prelisten and/or buy the song (mp3/mp4a) at
iTunes EU — Amazon.de (CH/D/A) — ~~Amazon.com~~ — eMusic*

Would you ask for the title as well? Leave a comment below!

Every Monday, I post a new “Song of the Week“.

Song of the Week #85: “Summit Ridge Drive” by Artie Shaw & His Gramercy Five
Song of the Week #84: “Root Hog Or Die” by The Harlem Hamfats
Song of the Week #83: “Queer Notions” by Fletcher Henderson & His Orchestra
Song of the Week #82: “Bizet Has His Day” by Les Brown
Song of the Week #81: “It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)” by Duke Ellington

Yes, it's long overdue, a Song of the Week by Jean “Django” Reinhardt (23.01.1910-16.05.1953), the first and probably still the most influencial European jazz musician.

Django Reinhardt was born into a french speaking gypsy – so-called Manouche – family and grew up near Paris.

He learned violin, banjo and the guitar very early and at the age of twelve or thirteen (depends on the source), he already was a professional musician.

In 1928 Django was heavily injured in a fire of his caravan. His right leg was paralysed and his left hand was badly burned. The doctors wanted to amputate his leg but Django refused.

During the rehabilitation time of 18 months he was given a guitar by his brother Joseph and he developed a total new fingering style with only two fingers!

The legendary The Quintet of the Hot Club of France was born in 1934 after Django met Stéphane Grappelli. It was one of the few well-known jazz ensembles composed only of string instruments.

The small record company Ultraphone recorded their first sides Dinah, Tiger Rag, Oh Lady be Good, and I Saw Stars which caused a sensation. The band went on to record hundreds of record side.

The Quintet broke at the beginning of World War II. Django recorded troughout the war years and after the war, he was rejoined by Stéphane and they again performed and recorded.

In 1951 Django retired, in 1953 he suffered a massive brain hemorrhage and died.

Django Reinhardt couldn't read and write notes, nevertheless he composed many songs which became jazz standards.

One of it is the often covered tune Minor Swing, representing the typical sound of Gypsy Swing by Django Reinhardt and his fellows.

DJ Chrisbe's Song of the Week #70: Minor Swing by Django Reinhardt

Title: Minor Swing
Artist: Django Reinhardt with The Quintet of the Hot Club of France
Recorded: 25.11.1937
Tempo: 204 bpm
Dance: Balboa, Lindy Hop

Click the link to download the song from: Amazon ･ iTunes

You can find the songs of the series also on my Spotify playlist. Official hashtag of the series: #djcsotw

Do you like the “Song of the Week” series? Share your thoughts below.

Gypsy Swing

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #86: Postcard To Fere

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DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #70: Minor Swing

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