Hot Club of Detroit September 30, 2010

The very name of the Hot Club of Detroit is a tip-off to what kind of traditional jazz this Detroit-based sextet plays. Where other jazz combos may devote themselves to Dixieland or bebop, this group hearkens back to the hot dance music and gypsy jazz made by Django Reinhardt; indeed, the group's name is a play on Reinhardt's legendary Hot Club of France Quintet, which also featured violinist Stéphane Grappelli in one of the classic pairings of 20th century music. There is no violinist in the Hot Club of Detroit, but under the direction of founder/lead guitarist Evan Perri, this group -- which also features Colton Weatherston and Paul Brady on rhythm guitar, Shannon Wade on bass, Dave Bennett on clarinet, and Julien Labro on button accordion -- remains faithful to the restless and sophisticated spirit of Reinhardt's music on their eponymous 2006 debut.

The key to the group's success is that they value both the sound and spirit of Reinhardt and are able to capture some of each. When they are running through the gypsy guitarist's repertoire -- and over half of the album's 13 songs is taken from his songbook -- their love and respect for the material is clear, but this never descends into a dogged homage to an idol; it's as spirited, lively, and infectious as his music.

Courtesy of Allmusic.com

For more information, visit www.hotclubofdetroit.com