Wednesday evenings at Café Degas the acoustic group Gizinti Trio plays just French enough to turn Esplanade Avenue into a scene resembling dinner in Montmartre.
The string band soothes the crowd with finger plucking and rhythm guitar strumming inspired by Django Reinhardt. Self-described as a sort of New Orleans gypsy jazz, heartfelt feelings ring true as the band performs.
The swing of the French-originated jazz style is alive in Annie Goes Out to the Ball Game. The Scottish-born lead guitarist, Leo Forde, who settled in New Orleans eight years ago, composed most of the tracks on the album. Since then, he has played with Meschiya Lake, Aurora Nealand, the Shotgun Jazz Band and the Hot Club of New Orleans. The trio also includes John Rodli on rhythm guitar and Nobu Osaki on upright bass. During the days in COVID isolation this group of friends found themselves jamming, which led to the project.
Annie Goes Out to the Ball Game opens with a fast-paced momentum on “Limping” in which the guitars seem to be slapped in a race. Just like the title of the track, the conversation between the rhythm and lead guitars mimics the feeling of running and limping through the struggle of keeping up.
Drawing from the roots of the ragtime-inspired genre, the King Oliver tune “Weather Bird Rag,” that was also covered by Louis Armstrong, recalls the formation of Reinhardt’s style, who drew inspiration from the New Orleans icon. The transition to “Pelicans” is a cool slow down, before they jolt back to the race in the urgent “Face Smash.”
Faithful to acoustic French-style jazz, offbeat syncopation helps create a rhythmic momentum. The rhythm guitar halts in tempo but keeps its constant steady pace on both the romantic strumming of “Saoirse” and the melodic voice of “Angeline.” Perhaps the closing ballad which croons “Heart of my Heart” to the listener is the sincerest way to end this love letter. It seems to drift off, saying goodbye from the caravan as it continues its way off into the unknown.
Upbeat and steady, the finger plucking glissandi across wooden fretboards by Gizinti Trio is an enjoyable ode to the sounds of French heritage.
