Mark O'Connor's second CD with his Hot Swing Trio is more than just a salute to the late, legendary jazz violinist
Stephane Grappelli; it firmly establishes as him as a bona fide jazz violin virtuoso, thanks to being distributed by a major label this time around. The capable guitarist
Frank Vignola plays gypsy swing à la
Django Reinhardt without sounding like a clone; bassist
Jon Burr, who spent a decade as a member of
Grappelli's rhythm section in his last years, provides a perfect match for his two bandmates. Each member of the trio contributed originals to the session. O'Connor's "In Full Swing" is absolutely breathtaking, while it is fun imagining how
Grappelli and
Reinhardt might have interpreted his enticing "Stephane and Django."
Burr's pulsating "Three for All" and
Vignola's lyrical "A Beautiful Friendship" are also worthwhile songs. The remaining selections all come from the repertoire of either
Grappelli or the
Grappelli-
Reinhardt partnership, with occasional guest appearances by
Wynton Marsalis and singer
Jane Monheit. There are plenty of fireworks in the trio's wild ride through "Limehouse Blues" (which, of course, isn't a blues at all). The high-flying duo introduction to "Tiger Rag" by O'Connor and
Marsalis is a meeting of two masters.
Monheit's interpretations of "Misty" and "As Time Goes By" are merely average, and she doesn't loosen up enough to appreciate the fun within
Fats Waller's "Honeysuckle Rose," though
Marsalis makes up for her shortcomings. In any case,
Mark O'Connor's Hot Swing Trio provide first-rate swing all by themselves, so adding guests isn't really necessary. ~ Ken Dryden