In Gypsy jazz (among the Gypsys, at least) it is traditional to hone your chops by starting as a rhythm player. Gadjo (non-Gypsy) Samy Daussat, a Frenchman has done this well. He has played rhythm guitar for the top players of the genre. Angelo DeBarre, Tchavalo Schmidt, Patrick Saussois, Babik Reinhardt, Raphael Fays, Moreno and David Reinhardt are among those who have been lucky enough to have been backed by this talented guitarist.
Samy was also a co-author, along with Angelo DeBarre of two method books on playing Gypsy jazz guitar.
With "La Petite Famille", Samy steps away from his role as a sideman and has arrived on the world's stage as a band leader. The album features Samy on solo guitar (that means lead guitar for all of you American Gadjo types), David Gastine on rhythm guitar and vocals, Claudius Dupont on bass. Django's grandson, David Reinhardt is a guest on two tracks playing a blond Gibson ES-175 (This must be a family tradition as his dad, Babik Reinhardt, his uncle Louson Baumgartner and his great uncle Joseph Reinhardt all played this model guitar!).
The album is a showcase for Samy's well-honed Gypsy jazz chops and is a well-crafted debut. The album opener is the title track "La Petite Famille". It opens with a two guitar intro that breaks into swing with a modern sound in the style of Bireli Lagrene. Samy's playing uses all the modern devices; artificial harmonics, triplets, block chords etc. The second tune is another hard swinging Daussat original aptly entitled "Gypsy School". This is followed by a Latin rhythmed version of Django's beautiful ballad "Manoir De Mes Reves". Listeners will hear in the intro, that Samy shares the Gypsy respect for George Benson.There are vocal tracks with David Gastine's vocal talents being showcased. While men may be impressed by Samy's guitar virtuosity, women will be drawn to the French vocals. It is great to hear "The Good Life" a tune made famous by Frank Sinatra performed in its original French. There is even a Nat Cole tune sung in English.
The album has a variety of rhythms, much like a Robin Nolan album. This helps keep the listener's attention. On "Le Mauvais Jours" and "Clairs-Obscurs", two Daussat originals, David Reinhardt plays his archtop guitar with authority, bringing a different voice to the album. Daussat uses an archtop guitar as well as a Gypsy guitar throughout the album, also providing a variety of tonal pallets.
This is a fine addition to the modern Gypsy jazz collection. If you are a fan of the work of Bireli lagrene or Robin Nolan, you will love this debut work from this fine guitarist. If you are more of a traditionalist, you will just plain like it. Highly reccomended.
"Elegant and understated, its grooves are deep in the pocket, and swings with the best."
"I keep five CDs in my car... this is one of them.
"Infinitely iPod-able."
"Samy DAUSSAT's Cd '' La Petite Famille'' is one of the best acoustic jazz recordings released in the last five years."