As a six-string dude myself, there’s nothing I think is finer than someone who can blow the roof off the sucker with a guitar. And Saturday night, Adrien Moignard and his band, L’Ensemble Zaiti (about whom I penned a story last week, I’m happy to say), served up an astounding display of musical virtuosity. And I don’t mean playing fast, for heaven’s sake. Moignard can do that–I thought his guitar might burst into flames at one point–but unlike most technically talented players in their early twenties, he also seems to possess a pretty sophisticated and easy sense of how to craft a solo, how to get from point A to B in an improvisation.
You should, by all means, visit Zaiti’s site. I don’t know if there’s anything there to equal what a chapel full of lucky Valley residents witnessed Saturday night, but there ought to be at least a taste. I just feel fortunate, in a way, that I’m not French or gypsy–my musical tradition, such as it is, is Southern rockabilly and country. It’s just simply easier to develop the skills to play that. Although, to be fair, being a really smokin’ rockabilly or country player is not exactly falling off a log either. It must be rough to see dudes like Moignard and his elders like Angelo DeBarre and my favorite in the style, Bireli Lagrene, and figure that’s your competition. Plenty of Americans, including me, have undertaken learning gypsy jazz, but at least I’ve got an excuse when I sound more like Bob Wills than Bireli Lagrene!
Adrien Moignard made me glad I’ve started a rockabilly band instead of just playing gypsy jazz (which I still do), and thinking I could ever throw down with real jazz manouche players. I’m sure someday an American guitarist will hit that kind of height, but I’ve yet to see any American, professional or amateur, who could do what Moignard did.
PS–The oddest part of Saturday was that a couple of Francophones, in the lobby during the break, pointed at me, saying "le frere de Mathieu!" Fortunately or otherwise, I understand a fair bit of their very fine Gallic tongue. That meant "the brother of Mathieu," the Ensemble Zaiti rhythm guitarist.
I’m sure I’ll find higher-res/more convincing examples, but see what you think:
Chatelain
Ten Gallon Liberal
(and no, I have no idea why I appear to be chewing Skoal, cause I don’t)
