(Swing, Gypsy) Reinier Voet and Pigalle44 - Swing for Bop - 2004, MP3, 320

Reinier studied jazz guitar in Amsterdam and the Royal Conservatory of The Hague, Holland. His teacher was the well known jazz guitarist Peter Nieuwerf. A central source of inspiration for Reinier’s playing is Django Reinhardt although more modern guitarists like Jim Hall, Jimmy Raney, Pat Martino, the Frenchman Boulou Ferre and Eastern European (gypsy-) music have also been a big influence. After the conservatory Reinier worked mainly in the gypsy jazz scene. Beside his own groups (Cravat Quartet, with Hady Mouallem, Deux-Creme-Deux with rhythm guitarist Henk de Geus), he has worked with gypsy guitar players such as Jimmy Rosenberg, Fapy Lafertin, klezmer clarinettist Marcel Salomon, and writer/painter/sculpturist/violinist Armando. Reinier also worked for the music-theatre company Het Muziek LOD with musical director/composer Dick van der Harst.
At this moment is Reinier’s most important musical project Reinier Voet and Pigalle44, that he organises together with rhythm guitarist Jan Brouwer. They already made four cd’s. On the last cd “Mistral” is both the accordion and the tenorsax featured, even in quintette line up. Pigalle44 played on several festivals, amongst them the Django Reinhardt Festival in Samois sur Seine (2004) and the Gypsyjazz Festival in New Caledonia (2005), a tour in Indonesia (2009) with Hermine Deurloo (harmonica/sopranosax), USA with Pigalle44 featuring Gert Wantenaar (accordion)on the Django Fest in Mill Valley (San Francisco) and teaching in the Django in June Django Gypsy Swing workshop week (Northampton), USA (with Jelle van Tongeren – violin) during the Midwest Django Fest in Madison. (see for more the pigalle44 website)
Last May 2012 Reinier Voet & Pigalle44 featuring Jelle van Tongeren performed on the Django Memorial Festival in Augsburg. A CD with this line up will be released in the near future.
Reinier has appeared at several festivals in Norway (Oslo Django Festival, with Hady Mouallem), England (with Pigalle44 at the Gypsy Jazz Guitar Festival, Gossington), Belgium (Gent, Brussels) and France (Paris, Samois sur Seine, Corsica). As sideman he plays on several CD’s, for example with gypsy guitarists Fapy Lafertin or Jimmy Rosenberg and klezmer clarinettist Marcel Salomon.
Reinier has played with…
Fapy Lafertin, Jimmy Rosenberg, Jan Brouwer, Gert Wantenaar, Jelle van Tongeren, Hermine Deurloo, Stochelo Rosenberg, Dick van der Harst, singer Nannette Currie, Tscha Limberger, Marcel Salomon, Rob Stoop, Olaf Hoeks, Martien Oster, Dick de Graaf, Robin Nolan, Michiel Weidner, Tim Kliphuis, Hady Mouallem, Henk de Geus, Frank Meester, Jan de Jong, Simon Planting, Joop van Deuren, Han Brink, Sander Hoving, Anti von Klewitz, Meinrad Kneer, singer Jette van der Meij, singer Guido Belcanto, singer Dorine Niezing, Koen de Cauter, writer/artist Armando, Spiegle Willcox, Adrie Braat…

With "Swing for Bop" we seem to have found the answer to the question of what is to become of the Hotclub de France style in this day and age. The best way forward has been chosen by Reinier Voet. (Ton Ouwehand, Jazz Magazine, Netherlands)
Reinier Voet &Pigalle44 has been around for a while and recorded some marvelous albums (Our Gypsy Rhapsody, Bric à Brac, ThemBest of Gypsy Swing from Holland) but Swing for Bop is their most eclectic. While the songlist includes many classics, the band reworks the songs in their own image. Their version of Django’s “Belleville,” for instance, is uniquely original, led by Voet’s stylish lead guitar. The CD’s title track is the most innovative cut, with its melody line literally moving from a swing sensibility to sophisticated bop phrasing and vocabulary. Backed by accordionist Gert Wantenaar, it’s an impressive song both for its composition, tight band ensemble work, and solos.
Michael Dregni (author of Django Reinhardt, the life and Music of a Gypsy Legend)
Just received my copy of this today and it's outstanding! A step above their previous release which says something right there. Rightfully so, they played the main stage at Samois this year. Voet is as influenced by Crolla, Jim Hall and Jimmy Raney as he is by Django, and this sound, a more mainstream jazz sound, is what sets him so much from everyone else. That and the fact that he is a wonderful composer, arranger and improvisor and combining that with his amazing band and you have a sure fire winner. Guys and gals, if you're tired of the same old stuff, buy this CD. If you're not tired of the same old stuff, buy it anyway and learn that there is life beyond the same old stuff. Thanks Reinier and Jan!
Larry Camp

Reinier Voet (solo guitar),
Gert Wantenaar (accordion),
Jan Brouwer (rhythm guitar),
Nick McGuire (double bass)