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Orkest Polytour has rejuvenated the style and class of that magical time

Cadence Magazine, USA

Orkest Polytour is a French quartet playing on (1) and (2) the music of Django Reinhardt and others from the glory days of the 1930s when Paris and the Hot Club were the hot spot in Jazz. Guided by the accordion playing and vocals of Guiran, the group recreates the aura of the era very effectively. The others in the band are string players. De Jong is the melody maker on guitar, De Ridder plays rhythm guitar, and Van is on bass. When they combine the strings with the accordion, they ably recapture the romance that surround the music of Reinhardt, Stephane Grappelli, and other who merged American Jazz, French café society music, and gypsy influences into a sound unique for its time. The music has a casual lilt to make it quite enticing. De Jong improvises over the melody lines and gently meshes his ringing guitar sounds with the waltzing strains of Guiran's accordion. De Jong often simulates the sound of the mandolin, which further adds to the romantic spirit portrayed through the music. Guiran sings in French on many of the mostly short selections, but he allows room for the band to improvise singly or jointly. His accordion has a singing tone that can be quite captivating, and when De Jong enters on guitar, the swinging champagne mood isa fully established. With all the excitement the band generates, I would have preferred a little less emphasis on vocalising.

The earlier recording on (1) includes 18 selections where they explore songs from both sides of the Atlantic. On the more recent session on (2) guest violinist Kliphuis joins them. Although they select a similar repertoire of American and European tunes, there is a much heavier emphasis on compositions by Reinhardt, who has eight tunes credited to him. Kliphuis adds validation to the music, interspersing the violin with the other strings and the accordion to simulate the spirited atmosphere of the smoky Jazz dens where this style of music flourished. His solos are filled with delicate vitality and add considerably to the depth of the already full sound of the band.

This was a very contradictory period in history. The world was caught in the grip of a great depression, and signs of German unrest were signalling that World War II was just around the corner; yet Paris was light and gay, and its music reflected this image. Orkest Polytour has rejuvenated the style and class of that magical time by authentically replicating the light-hearted glamour of the city's music.

Frank Rubolino, Cadence Magazine July 2000 Vol. 26 No. 7

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