Tchavolo Schmitt ~ Lautcha ~ CD

A true Manouche, Tchavolo Schmitt has always been more interested in music as a family bonding ritual and never a quest for public exposure or recognition. And so it goes that he was almost unknown outside of his Gipsy community before he was cast as the guitar teacher in Toni Gatlif's movie "Swing" in 2002. Now he is widely recognized in the world's music press as one of the premier proponents of the Django idiom. This his second CD in quick succession makes one wonder how he could possibly have remained in the wings for so long. Virtuosity and musical verve to burn in a set of French and American standards with a few of his own compositions in the genre, backed by a traditional Gipsy Jazz ensemble of bass, rhythm guitars, and violin.