gypsy swing

Romani music (often referred to as gypsy or gipsy music, which is sometimes considered a derogatory term) is the music of the Romani people who have their origins in northern India but today live mostly in Europe.

Gypsy music is characterized by its emotive melodies, intricate ornamentation, and improvisation. The music often features complex rhythms and time signatures, showcasing the virtuosity of the musicians.

Musical material and Phrasing The playing of inside and outside, wich are common practice in American Jazz, are allmost not adopted in Gypsy Jazz. While American Jazz has the tendency, to sound aerial and erratic, Gypsy Jazz sounds down to earth and the melodies are quite traceable, comprehensible and singable.

Sometime in the 1970s this style became codified as “Gypsy Jazz.” There are a few things that remain strange about this. Firstly, the name is offensive to some and was possibly codified by Romani musicians themselves.

Prefer "Romani style". Roma is the broadly accepted name of the ethnic group otherwise called Gypsies, a name which stuck when the Romani people of northern India migrated to Europe and were mistaken for Egyptians.

Gypsy Jazz, also known as Jazz Manouche, is a musical genre that brims with fervour, intricacy, and a distinctive swing rhythm that's hard to resist. Within this vibrant style of music, the guitar takes centre stage, offering a unique voice that's both rhythmic and melodic.

Phrasing and Musical Composition Arpeggios and chromatic notes make up the bulk of the solos in Gypsy Jazz. Of course, the solo can also be aerated with other aspects like scales, chord melodies, and some gymnastics. Gypsy jazz hardly ever uses the inside-and-outside playing techniques popular in American jazz.

Rhythm guitar in gypsy jazz uses a special form of strumming known as "la pompe", i.e. "the pump". This form of percussive rhythm is similar to the "boom-chick" in bluegrass styles; it is what gives the music its fast swinging feeling, and it most often emphasizes beats two and four; a vital feature of swing.

Many of the famous Gypsy jazz artists – like Stochelo Rosenberg and Biréli Lagrène – were born into Romani or Gypsy families and were brought up on the music, whilst others came to it later, although it is not a style that is taught widely in conservatoires, so many jazz musicians are not really exposed to it.

Django Reinhardt The legendary king of gypsy jazz, Django Reinhardt, was born on this day in 1910. (Photo by William P.

Both Rom and Romany have been in use in English since the 19th century as an alternative for Gypsy. Romany is also spelled Romani, or Rommany.

Roma, singular Rom, also called Romany or Gypsies (considered pejorative), an ethnic group of traditionally itinerant people who originated in northern India but live in modern times worldwide, principally in Europe.