Angelo Debarre & Florin Niculescu: The New Django & Stephan?

Here’s a song called “Swing Gitan,” performed by guitarist Angelo Debarre & violinist Florin Niculescu plus their super great backup band. Are they the new Django Reinhardt and Stephan Grappelli? That’s a question that is certainly has been and will continue to be debated….

Here’s both of their bios and links to read more: “Angelo Debarre is a native of St-Denis in France and began playing guitar at the age of eight. Gypsy community, the tradition is transmitted orally at parties and family gatherings where music still occupies a prominent place. Angelo also confirmed this fact during an interview with Michel Bedin of Jazz Hot “You know, when you’re three hundred to four hundred caravans, music meetings, this is not what is missing. “1. Gypsy musical tradition initiated by Django Reinhardt is the heart of this culture. Angelo Debarre quickly became one of the jazz masters. He founded his first group “Angelo Debarre Quintet” in 1984. The following year he began touring with musicians gipsy worldwide. This music has no secrets for him, but that did not stop us at concerts and festivals with enthusiasm and passion. The music of Django Reinhardt, Angelo Debarre that is, music that retains its dynamism and richness of yesteryear … timeless music. He masters quite happily directory Gypsy of Eastern Europe. It is in contact with Serge Camps at Roue Fleurie, meeting place par excellence of gypsies in Paris, he was introduced to the music. There will regularly from 1985 to 1987. It is at this time that Jon Larsen 2, the viewer Roue Fleurie, is fascinated by the music he heard there decided to invite Angelo Debarre, Serge Camps and Frank Anastasio a recording studio. “Gypsy Guitars” recording that would showcase the group’s dynamism and the wide variety of repertoire Gypsy interpreted, is still essential for all fans of Gypsy music of Eastern Europe and gipsy jazz.” read more here

“Florin Niculescu (b. February 8, 1967 in Bucharest) is a Romanian violinist of Romani (Gypsy) ethnicity. He is considered one of the best jazz manouche violinist of our days, the successor of Stéphane Grappelli. He is noted for his impressive technique and virtuosity as well as for his musical sensitivity. In 1991 he left for Paris to fulfill his dream of meeting Stéphane Grappelli and making a name in jazz for himself. He got his first gig at a Russian cabaret. He also enrolled in the Conservatoire de Paris, although his jazz teacher told him from the first audition that he shouldn’t waste his time there, instead he should be playing on stage. Meanwhile, he continued to play on various scenes with various musicians.Niculescu was born into a family of educated lăutari. Everybody in his family was involved in music: his father and his uncle were violinists, his mother a pianist and his sister a cellist. He received his first violin lessons from his father, with whom he started to study seriously when he was 4–5 years old. At 6 he enrolled at the “Dinu Lipatti” Music School and then at the “George Enescu” Music High School, where he was a first prize student. Meanwhile he played with his father at weddings and celebrations, where he developed his improvisatory sense. When he was about 13 he heard for the first time violinist Stéphane Grappelli, who would become his idol and jazz music his main attraction. Niculescu finally met his idol, Stéphane Grappelli, in 1994. Grappelli was so impressed by him that he proposed him to record a disc together. Niculescu decline the offer believing that he didn’t deserve the honor, yet. He hoped to receive some lessons from Stéphane Grappelli, but Grappelli told him that he has nothing to teach him as the Romani have a fantastic natural technique. In 1995 he joined Romane’s band and, in 2001, he was invited by Biréli Lagrène to join his “Gipsy Project”, inspired by the Quintette du Hot Club de France. The couple Biréli Lagrène-Florin Niculescu succeeded the couple Django Reinhardt-Stéphane Grappelli.”  read more

Lots of impressive accomplishments by both musicians. I just wanted to point out that the original video title has listed Birelli Lagrene’s name listed. I’m not so sure the person that posted this knew who Birelli was but, he is not in this video (if he were, he definitely would have taken a solo and had quite a lot to say on his guitar). In any event, great playing that is very reminiscent to Django and Stephan!