Gypsy Jazz is Alive and Well in Paris

While it may be 56 years since the great Django Reinhardt passed away, and over a decade since Stephane Grappelli last graced the earth, the spirit of gypsy jazz music is alive and well in the city of lights. This fact was never more apparent to me that tonight, when we ventured into the Latin Quarter to see Rodolphe Raffalli perform at the Piano Vache. Raffalli is the genuine article, always dressed in an unassuming hunting cap, but armed only with an impossibly-small-soundholed Gitane guitar. While he may not have the dramatic flair—or Gypsy pedigree—of an Angelo Debarre, Raffalli astounded with a mix of technical prowess and mastery of the gypsy jazz style. He and his trio swung from standards like "Minor Swing" and "Caravan" to original tunes of their own, all without breaking stride. It was enough to make you sit back, throw back some red, and imagine it's 1939 all over again. Check out the video(s) below: