DjanGo!! (De Cauter/Lafertin)

‘Django did something that only a few could do; he was so exceptional that he was able to forge his own music genre (Gypsy swing). He was a virtuoso guitar player with a fantastic feeling for lyricism, structure and balance. His unmistakable genius lies in the way he so effortlessly combined jazz with musette and gypsy music to create masterpieces which have passed and will continue to pass the test of time.
He is considered to be one of the most important musical icons of the 20th century.’ Waso De Cauter
In 1953 Django Reinhardt passed away. He was without a doubt the greatest personality in jazz that came from Europe.
In 2003 Waso De Cauter started a tribute project to honour the genius of Django.
The idea behind the project was not so much to copy nor cover the playing and music by this guitar master but to give a personal interpretation of the genre.
DjanGo! is not a band but a project with the aim to remained a constantly evolving and innovative group of musicians, always broadening the repertoire and exploring new possibilities within the language – as did Django himself.
The first faze in 2003 was a double quartet exploring Django’s beginning in musette with two great musicians from Paris; guitarist Patrick Saussois and accordionist Daniel Colin and Django’s creation of his own language with stylists Koen De Cauter on clarinet and Fapy Lafertin on guitar.
The rhythm was provided by two sons of Koen; Waso De Cauter on guitar and Dajo De Cauter on double bass.
In 2004 the project slightly changed by replacing Daniel Colin by violin virtuoso Tcha Limberger. The focus being the golden ‘Hot Club de France’ years of Django.
That formation recorded a live concert which also featured the tenor sax player Joop Ayal (°1925) being a direct link with the first generation style of great tenor saxophone players in jazz: Ben Webster and especially Coleman Hawkins who played and recorded often with Django.
In 2005 the project wanted to emphasise on Django’s often underestimated ‘electric period’: after creating a whole new sound (electric-acoustic guitar and –often two- clarinet(s) replacing the violin) Django continued, stylistically and harmonically, to redefine standards.
Clarinet player Myrddin De Cauter (another son of Koen) replaced Tcha.
In 2007 Patrick went on doing his great music and the concept again changed.
Drummer Lionel Beuvens and guitarplayer Bart Vervaeck provide extra strength and swing to the rhythm section and also American cornet player Jon Birdsong joined.
The homage now broadened there interpretations from the early to the late Django who kept on evolving (bebop) until his early death in ’53.
And just like the master... the adventure and search for beauty and 'joie de vivre' are the greatest concerns.
By 2010 there will be a new cd; 100 years Django must be celebrated!
In the end, the most important thing of all is the musical instincts of the artists, making the music’s emotions the key element and take the audience on a journey through the musical landscape of Django Reinhardt… always in search of beauty.
PS: I know some people are offended by the use of the name "DjanGo!" - but, there is no other meaning than a hommage to Django Reinhardt. We are not saying that we are the only true heirs of his legacy nor that only we are entitled to use his name...
It's just a title chosen for a project in a land where the masses seem to forget their legends!
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