Rocky Gresset

The Gypsy swing music of Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli of the 1930s has been kept alive by various European jazz musicians in the decades since Reinhardt's death in 1953 and Grappelli's in 1996. For the most part, the young guitarist Rocky Gresset continues Reinhardt's approach in his debut effort as a leader, utilizing a quartet with violinist Costel Nitescu and rhythm guitarist Matheu Chatelain, with bassist Jeremie Arranger taking over on two tracks. Gresset doesn't really break new ground in his treatments of standards like "Time on My Hands," "Just One of Those Things," and "Blue Skies." One of Reinhardt's songs, "Webster," is an obscurity dating from the guitarist's post-World War II years; Gresset and Nitescu offer impressive solos. While most of the music is Gypsy swing, Gresset switches to electric guitar for an impressive rendering of Wes Montgomery's "Jingles," which adds some Gypsy elements into the driving bop vehicle. He also plays electric guitar in an upbeat swinging setting of "Here's That Rainy Day" and the late Michel Petrucciani's upbeat Latin-flavored gem "Looking Up." This is an impressive beginning for Rocky Gresset. ~ Ken Dryden