Live Review – Connor Holdridge with Hot Mess Quartet - @AMP

Guitarist Connor Holdridge with the Hot Mess Quartet delivered a night of intriguing explorations around the map of jazz manouche, the “gypsy jazz” style made popular by Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli through the 1930’s and ‘40’s.

The Hot Mess Quartet, brings together a group of fabulous musicians to play the music they love. Honed by a weekly gig in Baltimore, the band’s ensemble playing is tight and fluid. The lead roles interchange throughout. It doesn’t feel like anyone “takes a solo” as each solo is so melodic….plus it looks like there’s a lot of very genuine enjoyment going on, which is never a bad thing, right?

The program included three of Django’s lesser known pieces Dinette, Troublant Bolero, and Artillerie Lourde, each showcasing a different aspect of Reinhardt’s genius. Holdridge has the Hot Club guitar style down. He’s played with some of the best, working regularly with Michael Joseph Harris, and recently being on stage with guitar legend Stephane Wrembel at the Dave Kline Band’s Blues Alley show. At AMP by Strathmore, he brought a new contemporary edge to the playing; less of the aggressive pompe of the traditional down-stroke playing, a lighter touch, greater variety and dynamics, while keeping the melody and the gymnastic virtuosity of the tradition.

Holdridge and the Hot Mess Quartet’s arrangements brought a refreshing depth to each piece, particularly in the case of Artillerie Lourde, a composition written by Reinhardt in response to the heavy bombardment inflicted on France during the Second World War. The arrangement was full of dropping bombs provided by the bass of Jeff Reed, along with the scurrying brushes of drummer Eric Tapper. The interplay of Holdridge and clarinetist Gabe Wallace took the tune through multiple mood swings; tension, chaos, relaxation, relief….war is hell, but humans find a way to maintain their humanity.

Eddie Lang, the American guitarist who predated and influenced Django has been a recent fascination for Holdridge who performed an ever-changing solo acoustic rendition of Lang’s waltz April Kisses, skipping between carousel-waltzing-rhythm and angular runs. If black and white silent movies were still a thing, this would be the perfect soundtrack, the arrangement was cinematic. Where’s Charlie Chaplin when you need him!

Gabe Wallace’s vocal performance of I Don’t Care Much, a song by Broadway composer John Kander, had none of the bravado of Barbara Streisand’s 1960’s version. His tuneful, matter-of-fact, intimate delivery is perfect for the lyric. A gorgeous voice, and a bold crescendo into vulnerable falsetto territory to close the song. Putting a Broadway song in a gypsy jazz setting worked, it’s a waltz…it works. That was part of the intrigue, that Connor and the band put together such a diverse program and stayed clear of the more obvious repertoire. I love the Django repertoire, and I loved this refreshing re-setting of the style.

Similarly, the resetting of Johannes Brahms Hungarian Dance no 5, arranged by Wallace, brought a new vibrancy to this classical piece, transforming it into clarinet led Klezmer with some dizzying playing, and a good dollop of Hot Club style. Eric Tapper’s drumming on this piece and throughout was stellar. Armed with nothing but bass drum, snare, and a couple of cymbals Eric played all the notes. Eric and bassist Jeff Reed were enjoying their own rhythmic playground, having a ball back in the second line throughout the show.  

One of the night’s highlights, reflected in the audience response, was Holdridge’s original composition Cart Before the Horse. Again, he brings something new to the table. His guitar talent goes without saying; the ability to write such interesting and accessible compositions is a cherry-on-top.

A great band and a great show, exploring the possibilities of a music tradition which is nearly 100 years old, yet still touches souls. Connor Holdridge and the Hot Mess Quartet are bringing the genre into the present with inspired choices and superb musicianship.

 For more info go to Connor Holdridge’s website

You can catch the Hot Mess Quartet monthly at brasserie Monarque, 1010 Fleet St, Baltimore, MD.

A big shout-out once again to the fabulous Strathmore Artists in Residence program for finding and presenting such great DC area musicians.