Djangology

by Ken DrydenThe phenomenal guitarist Birelli Lagrene is joined by the WDR Big Band for a concert that is mostly a salute to Django Reinhardt, with a few modern twists added.First of all, Lagrene plays electric guitar (which Reinhardt played some late in his career, though he is best known as an acoustic guitarist). He also adds a vocal to a warm version of "The Shadow of Your Smile" (written over a decade after Reinhardt's death), while the opener, "Place Du Tetre," is an explosive bop original by Lagrenethat finds him getting a bit too coy cramming in a number of quotes ("Laura," "As Time Goes By" and even "Pop Goes the Weasel"). But Lagrene is at his very best on the numbers associated with Reinhardt. "Anouman" is a neglected gem written by Reinhardt a few years before his death; this version features Lagrene with baritone saxophonist Jens Neufang. The guitarist is on fire in the explosive post-bop setting of "Caravan." Conductor Michael Abene also provided the top notch arrangements, while there are also a number of fine soloists within the band.