Hi everyone! I recently visited a Gypsy Jazz jam session led by Denis Chang here in Japan, and I wanted to share my thoughts on it. I’d love to hear what you think if you have a moment to read! Thank you.

Denis Chang's Gypsy Jazz Session Bootcamp [Jpn./Eng.]

was buying tomato and someone started playing mandoli, a gypsy jazz, fast and precise. not many people stopped, they just kept walking while i stood there. did not buy anything for ten minutes, just listened. the mandolin player did not look up, just played. i think he did not know anyone was listening, maybe he did not care. ten minutes. my tomatoes were getting cold but i did not care. stood there and listened and maybe learned a little bit about what rhythm i should be using on my own mandolin attempts. nobody stopped but i did. ten minutes. that is the only time a farmer market has earned a reviewer from me and the review is just this. someone stood there played and i stood there and listened and nobody else cared and that was the whole beautiful thing about it.

I know it’s tradition but tradition is peer pressure from dead people. Just put the dot back on fret 9 where it belongs.

I am struggling to pick out the chords in this one, any help would be much appreciated. It's on the "Alors? Voila!" Album. Thanks!

At the Duke of George in East Fremantle, Western Australia

These guitars were made to project mainly, they have a characteristic aggressive and assertive sound to them, so making them sound sensitive and beautiful is a challenge I've been obsessively taking on for years. Do you think I manage?

If 10 is the hardest you can play and 1 the softest what intensity do you hit the strings at?

I feel like I’m at a 7/8 and can’t seem to play any lighter but it may be affecting my control note separation.

Thanks in advance

Hello everyone i'm interested in buying a gipsy guitar although in Hungary it's a very limited market mostly filled with the carvalho series. Are they great guitars to start this genre? I was thinking about buying from leboncion, the only problem is their shipment is only available in france. How can i safely and cheaply arrange this? Could you suggest some great models? the sprice would be around 450 euros.

One more heads-up for anyone in Southern California who wants to hear the music live. Disclosure: I'm with Literati Events, which is hosting the night.

Habibi Swing is the band for our Jekyll & Hyde masquerade on Saturday, October 17, from 9 PM to 1 AM at the Santa Monica Bay Woman's Club (1210 4th St). The LA Swing Dance Posse will be there too, so there will be dancers on the floor if that's your thing. If you'd rather just stand near the band and listen, that works too.

It is a costume night (gothic, Victorian, or just a mask), with aerialists and a magician between the dancing. $55, 18+, bar is 21+.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-abhorrum-masquerade-the-strange-case-of-dr-jekyll-and-mr-hyde-tickets-1992885558352

First video of many to come from my trip to Japan. This was truly a dream come true!

I'm considering getting one of this, could someone say if they worth it for the price ?

I am putting together an October playlist. Minor Swing is the obvious pick. What else has that moody, candlelit feel? Django's recordings or modern players are both welcome.

Hi colleagues, I am hoping to get recommendations for resource (books, videos, courses) on upright bass for gypsy jazz that are appropriate to my starting point. I'm a very experienced regular jazz player, so theory, ear, improv, etc is all in my bag. Relatively new to upright, but have been playing electric for years and taking upright lessons currently with an excellent jazz player.

So really, I'm looking for the goods on what is unique to Gypsy jazz and what one should know for performing idiomatically and learning the standard repertoire.

thanks!

I'm working on my rest stroke going downward across two strings and then up on the second one (doing triplets) and I'm finding that keeping the two downstrokes in time is difficult. I end end "playing through" on the second note too fast. Sometimes way too fast. I take it this just requires practise? Or is there something common I'm doing wrong?

Hi all! I am with Literati Events, the small Santa Monica company hosting this, so take the enthusiasm with a grain of salt. But if you are in Southern California and want an excuse to hear some manouche played live, this might be your night.

Habibi Swing is our house band for the whole evening: Danni Pravder on keys, Gage Getz on bass, Jason Masoud on guitar, and Ty Mauro on drums. They bring a fast, fiery gypsy jazz sound, and the LA Swing Dance Posse will be on the floor leading and dancing with guests.

The occasion is the abhorrum masquerade, our annual Halloween costume ball, themed this year around The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde. There will also be aerialists, a magician, interactive characters, and mead tastings.

When: Saturday, October 17, 9:00 PM to 1:00 AM

Where: Santa Monica Bay Woman's Club, 1210 4th Street, Santa Monica

Dress: Gothic, Victorian, formal masquerade, or dark academia. Masks encouraged. Dancing shoes strongly advised.

Ages: 18+ (21+ to drink, with ID)

Details and tickets: www.literatievents.com

Hi all!

I play the AKAI EWI and am planning to get into Gypsy Jazz. I've come across a couple of cool examples on YouTube recently, and they got me interested in exploring the possibilities.

However, I'm wondering whether an electronic instrument would fit the raw, acoustic feel of a traditional jam, especially alongside Maccaferri-style guitars.

Has anyone here tried this, or seen an EWI/windsynth used in a Manouche Swing setting? How do you think it would fit in?

Any feedback or advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Hi,

I’ve come across this Gitane D-500 for £450. Looks to be in pretty good shape, though it’s missing the tail block and part of the letter “E” on the headstock logo? My main concern is that I think the bridge has been swapped out?

Could anyone confirm this for me? I don’t have any experience with this particular model, though I have read that it isn’t uncommon for the bridge on these models to be changed, as they can be a little heavy.

Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Anyone know of a magnet pickup that fits on an Altamira md01? I am borrowing a “peche à la mouche” but there’s a brace in the way and it only clips on halfway.

Thanks!

Hi there!
Does your Gypsy Jazz phrasing feel like it’s just scratching the surface? Playing like Django Reinhardt isn’t just about speed, it’s about mastering the magnetic rhythm and melodic creativity that changed music forever. I’ve meticulously transcribed the "Bouncin' Around" solo note-for-note, capturing every nuance, vibrato, and harmonic substitution that makes it timeless. Stop wasting hours on incomplete tutorials; get the exact roadmap of his genius today.

Hi all, here is our album from 2024 recorded live with real vintage 1930s mics. This was a fun album to make, but we threw it together in one session and I didn't get to take my time on it! I'm really excited about our next album which I spent a lot of time working on which should be ready in the next few months.

Feel free to check it out if you're interested.

Hi! I'm posting an old video from our nyc based group! Enjoy. Happy to share more recent videos as well!

I use IRs on an amp modeler for my GJ guitar's piezo. For kicks I played an electric guitar through it. It sounds pretty decent all thing considered. Would work in a pinch if needed.

Hello guys,

I've been playing gypsy jazz for about 4-5 years and recently started posting.

Here's my take on Vette :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3a_0hdRTuQ8

I was curious : do you have any advice to help me get better in the style ? Do you have any critique of things I could do better ?

Thank you so much ! Looking forward to know what you think :)