GISMO GRAF TRIO – A TRIO’S DECADE

You better get ready; the Gismo Graf Trio is on its way! Prepare your feet, because once they start playing you will not be able to control them moving to the beat anymore…

As the title states, the group celebrates its 10th anniversary. This is the 5th album of the trio who is mainly playing in Germany. For Gismo, a 25-year-old prodigy of the gypsie guitar, music is a family affair: His father plays the guitar and his sister sings. Clearly influenced by the maestro Django Reinhardt, his gypsie jazz sounds extremely precise and voluble.

Yes, in this genre we are already used to guitar virtuosity, very flexible movements of the wrist and an extreme rapidity of the playing fingers. But beside all of this, the sound processing is very innovative in the recording, which creates new and unusual sound landscapes. You’ll recognize the perfect harmony in this ensemble which can be explained by the long way that the trio, almost quartet, already walked together. The rhythm section and the bass are in line with each other and highlight even more the brilliant play of the leader.

A very modern “Liberian Girl” where manouche meets fusion while always respecting the tradition; a revisited version of “My Funny Valentine” where the sister’s voice sounds soft and pure; and an unexpected incursion into the repertoire of Chopin executed in a speed of light where not a single note can be omited. And finally, a great swing on “A Foggy Day in London Town” where we can admire the whole spectrum of Gismo Graf’s playing skills : He seems to feel comfortable with every possible rhythmic combination and confirms that there exists gypsie jazz of very high quality in Germany. With this large variation you’ll never get the impression of being limited to one single style while listening to the disc. Every song is a detour and a creative quotation at the same time. “Stockholm Weekend Waltz” makes us suddenly want to waltz and by closing our eyes we can truly imagine Gus Viseur rejoice in joining the group.

Sparkling and colorful music that honors the long tradition of gypsie jazz.