I play gypsy jazz myself, every week, with Trio Brandhout. This is the music of Django Reinhardt: acoustic, fast, and built on a rhythmic feel you will not find in any other style.
What you learn
La pompe. The rhythm guitar that carries the whole style. Two guitars, no drummer, and still a band that swings. Without a convincing pompe the rest falls apart, so that is where we start.
Soloing. Arpeggios over the changes, the characteristic licks, and the way a phrase is built in this music. Different from bebop, and worth learning on its own terms.
Right hand. The rest stroke, the attack that gives an unamplified acoustic guitar its volume and tone. This takes the most time and is where you hear the difference soonest.
The repertoire. Minor Swing, Djangology, Nuages, Dark Eyes, and the standards that come round at every jam.
Which guitar
A Selmer-Maccaferri model, with a petit bouche or grande bouche soundhole, sounds the most authentic. You can start perfectly well on the steel-string you already own; what you need if you want to go further is something we simply work out in the lesson.
Worth listening to
Where it starts
Django Reinhardt, Joseph Reinhardt, Baro Ferret, Sarane Ferret, Matelo Ferret
France and Belgium
Fapy Lafertin, Boulou Ferré, Romane, Tchavolo Schmitt, Angelo Debarre, Dorado Schmitt, Samson Schmitt, Ninine Garcia, Mandino Reinhardt, Yorgui Loeffler, Biréli Lagrène, Tcha Limberger
The Netherlands
Stochelo Rosenberg, The Rosenberg Trio, Jimmy Rosenberg, Mozes Rosenberg, Paulus Schäfer, Robin Nolan
Germany and Austria
Joscho Stephan, Lulo Reinhardt, Wawau Adler, Diknu Schneeberger
Playing today, worldwide
Antoine Boyer, Adrien Moignard, Sébastien Giniaux, Rocky Gresset, Gwen Cahue, Olli Soikkeli, Gonzalo Bergara, Andreas Öberg, John Jorgenson, Jonny Hepbir
The style is also known as jazz manouche, and in the Netherlands as sinti music.