My Sweet Swings à la Django ..with classic jazz and klezmer covers

A song in the swingin' spirit of jazz manouche ...about happy times of adolescence !! :-)) dedicated to my dear DDjohn Junior ;-)

L'âge bête
C'est bon c'est doux c'est chouette
L'âge bête ...
Quand on n'a pas quinze ans

J'ai grandi un peu trop vite 
Je dois rôder un peu la mécanique
Une certaine folie m'habite
Faut m'pardonner Y a comme un hic
Car..
J'ai l'âge bête
C'est bon c'est doux c'est chouette 
La vie est douce et belle 
Et j'ai pas toutes mes dents ...

Je ne fais pourtant rien de mal
A taper partout ma basket balle
Tant pis pour les poteaux,  pots aux fleurs
Si ça casse c'est pas un malheur

L'âge bête (refrain ..)

J'me dis quand quand même
Quand je regarde autour de moi 
C'est quand qu'on en sort de l'age bête
Dis Eddy, dis le moi !!

Refrain + délires (de jeunesse)

Additional collabs on this song welcome  !! (maybe a "brassy"  or "woody" or "other" color ?)

Teenage spirit / L'âge bête / delirium juvenae (version manouche only)

 Italy-France SC collaboration
Guitars : Lorenzo Rovito
Double bass : Riccardo Ievoli 
Clarinets : Stephano (DDJohn)  ;-)
Please visit Lorenzo Rovito's SC page  (https://soundcloud.com/lorenzo-rovito) and listen to his amazing recordings in pure Django style ...

Nuages  (Django Reinhardt) - ft. Lorenzo Rovito

This is a very special song in the Beatles universe (www.omgfacts.com/lists/6292/Paul-…ust-16-years-old) and a very special song to me as a clarinetist and Beatles lover ... not many pop/rock artists except the Beatles /Supertramp /Zappa have used the clarinet !! ...
Hope you enjoy our little tribute/ revisit of this classic ...with just a little swingy twist ;-)

Made with a very big help from my musician friends ! :)
Vocals : https://soundcloud.com/jean-michel-george
First guitar solo : https://soundcloud.com/pierrou
Second guitar solo :https://soundcloud.com/davidmcwilliams
Please visit these wonderful musicians and people !
****
Original idea, all other instr., mix (and so much fun imagining/doing this -  Merci Soundcloud ! :)) : https://soundcloud.com/stevee101

When I'm Sixty-Four (The Beatles)  with Jean-Michel George, Pierrou & David  McWilliams (USA-FRA)

About this song  ...
https://flickrcomments.wordpress.com/2015/02/10/bei-mir-bist-du-schoen-4/
***
Bass, Guitar : @fingerstyle_guitar
Clarinets /Mix : DDJohn (Steph) : @stevee101
***
A real nice gipsy version herebelow (with reallly really good clarinet this time ;-) !
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xcv992_jazz-manouche-madamirma-a-tours-bei_music

Bei Mir Bist Du Scheen (With Fingerstyle)

Inspired by :
Le soir (Django)
A beautiful djanguesque version here :  https://soundcloud.com/hottigaeru-trio/le-soir-django-reinhardt
AND ...just a bit of fun ...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q__RO4pKJZk
Hope you enjoy :)
All Instr/Lyrics/Vocals/Mix : DDJohn (Steph)
(real clarinets and guitar, all the rest, real fingers !)

Ah que j'aime flâner
Le soir, le long des quais
Tout Paris s'illumine et me sourit 

Je remonte la Seine
Comme Django ou Verlaine
Le soir à Paris c'est l'Espoir



Variations Sur Le Soir (Django Reinhardt) Avec Sophie Daumier Et Guy Bedos

St Louis Blues, a jam with:
DDJohn at Clarinets (https://soundcloud.com/ddjohn)
Fingerstyle playing Banjo (https://soundcloud.com/fingerstyle_guitar)
Jamie jam session with Trombone (https://soundcloud.com/jamie-rhind)
Pierrou Bass and Guitar (https://soundcloud.com/pierrou)

St Louis Blues (Jam with DDJohn, Fingerstyle_Guitar, Jamie Rhind & Pierrou)

02 /12/2016 : This is now a very special song to me and all of us ...I'm thinking of Michel Martineau  @michel-martineau who joined this little adventure so special to me  ...We miss you Michel 
This is our tribute to Georges Brassens, on one of his most popular songs celebrating friendship and fraternity :))
Hope you enjoy :))
(Magic) Clarinet solo and additional arrangements for the second instrumental part : https://soundcloud.com/michel-martineau
Violin : https://soundcloud.com/drkatrinamaxwell 
Drums : https://soundcloud.com/papagno
Bass - 1st part : https://soundcloud.com/chris-pendergraft
Banjo : https://soundcloud.com/fingerstyle_guitar
Vocals (from start) : https://soundcloud.com/alexis-roche-2
Vocals ( alias Michel Simon..ahahah), slide : https://soundcloud.com/imre-lodbrog
Vocals (from "Au moindre coup de Trafalgar"), lead guitar, rythmic guitar : https://soundcloud.com/pierrou

Thank you all so much :))

Vocals (from "fluctuat nec mergitur") , rythmic guitar, clarinet arrangements, mix and so much  fun : https://soundcloud.com/ddjohn

Georges, on t'aime !! :))

Bien fraternellement à  tous 

Steph

Collab description : https://soundcloud.com/ddjohn/les-copains-dabord-clarinets

All contributions can be found at :https://soundcloud.com/ddjohn/sets/les-copains-dabord-george

For our english speaking friends, no need to learn French to sing along !!  here's a great western style version totally in the same spirit and the best translation I think ;-) :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDO254-d6_k
Lyrics : http://lyricstranslate.com/fr/asleep-wheel-friendship-first-les-copains-dabord-lyrics.html
Another beautiful brazilian version :
https://soundcloud.com/trio-esperanca/les-copains-dabord
The original with Mr Georges : www.youtube.com/watch?v=rslShTbqNbo

Les Copains d'abord (Georges Brassens) by Le Hot Club de SoundCloud (Québec -USA-SWE-SWI- FRA)

This is a really fun jam - done in record times ! -  with David (https://soundcloud.com/davidmcwilliams2) , very much inspired by  Master Django https://www.google.fr/?ion=1&espv=2#q=Django+aall+of+me

It's wonderful to be able to  jam like this  between USA and France thanks to SC !!  Our dear Django must be smiling up there ;-)

Jamming friends welcome  ! I'd be more than happy to mix in your stem  for another longer version ! Here's 
- one base track with guitars only (4 turns)
https://soundcloud.com/ddjohn/all-of-me-base/s-CnT0x
- complete base track with second clarinets (7 turns, you can play 1/3/5/7 solo (impro or theme) and play with background clarinets/guitars !
https://soundcloud.com/ddjohn/all-of-me-complete-base-track-with-second-clarinets/s-CvUrZ 

Live jam after this ! : https://soundcloud.com/ddjohn/all-of-me-live-at-the-kustom-cafe

All Of Me -  with David Mac Williams

Live version with  teachers and students from our local music school :) Was great fun :)))
Had a wonderful SC cloud jam before that one with my friend David :  https://soundcloud.com/ddjohn/all-of-me-with-david-mac-williams


All of me - Jam with FLC team -  Live at the Kustom Cafe

"All of Me" is a popular song and jazz standard written by Gerald Marks and Seymour Simons in 1931.
First performed by Belle Baker over the radio and recorded in December 1931 by Ruth Etting: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:All_of_Me_performed_by_Ruth_Etting.ogg
 It has become one of the most recorded songs of its era, with notable versions by Russ Columbo, Bing Crosby, Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Mildred Bailey, Benny Goodman, Teddy Wilson in 1941, the Count Basie Orchestra, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan (for the 1957 album, Swingin' Easy), Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Frankie Laine in 1947, Dinah Washington at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival, Shirley Bassey in 1962, The Blue Diamonds, Della Reese, Johnnie Ray,[2] Django Reinhardt, Erroll Garner, Willie Nelson, Ronnie Dove, Jean Frye Sidwell, João Gilberto (Disse Alguém), Michael Bublé, Miss Montreal in 2012 and The Rockin' Berries. Ani DiFranco covered the song in 2012 for the Documentary, Love, Marilyn. It is also covered by Eric Clapton on his 2013 album Old Sock with Paul McCartney.

I'm very glad to share with you this awesome composition with the talented clarinet player DD John (Steph) who recorded also the rhythm guitars and the upright bass!!!
I just added some piano, i hope you'll enjoy our jam!
Clarinet, rhythm guitar & upright bass: https://soundcloud.com/ddjohn
Piano: https://soundcloud.com/jules-keys-1
A message from Steph:
"The jam is open for Djangophiles , Steph will mix be more than happy to mix the contributions from Django lovers in an "all together " jam ) 
Base track can be found at : 
https://soundcloud.com/ddjohn/all-of-me-complete-base-track-with-second-clarinets
Photo by DD John at the Django's memorial.

All of me - Steph & Jul

Lizzie (https://soundcloud.com/taylor-pentland) made me the immense pleasure to imagine some vocals and to sing on a classic Klezmer track  I developped adding some Flamenco flavors and some festive mood !! Hope you like this mix of colors !!

Vocals : https://soundcloud.com/taylor-pentland
I imagined this festive reunion between Klezmer and Flamenco  musicians (and dancers!) after playing the original arrangement for 9 clarinet "der Heyzer Bulgar" (Klezmer classic)  written by David Krakauer . https://soundcloud.com/ddjohn/der-heyser-bulgar-arrangement-by-dkrakauer-for-a-clarinet-choir-mix-by-michel-martineau. A special thought to our dear Michel Martineau, I personally miss him very much;  he so kindly  helped help me  mix my 9 clarinet parts !

Der Heyzer Flamenco with Lizzie

Holidays  will come up soon :) This track will eventually have lyrics one day, the idea is that you can't always get what you want :)) On Louis Armstrong mood ;-) 
Real instruments played : clarinet, trumpet and ... voice  ! 
Real fingers used with Cubase vst 
Drums : audio sample 
 Hope you enjoy !

You Can't Always Win It All (Instrumental version)

This is a hot classic song https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_Song?veaction=edit! Hot like this autumn season in France...A song of circumstance ...Discovered this gem interpreted by Django recently, could't believe I never listened to this treasure before .......https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7aOnRO1v9E
This is only an attempt to cover the master my humble way , started with the guitar for the simple phrases and continued furher with the clarinet ...this is just half of the song really...
played the theme with some personal interpretation  at the end "à la Bechet " ....well "à la steph" let's say :)

Any Django lover (guitarist or other) more than welcome to add a chorus / theme on this one ..I'd be happy to send you a base track and make another version  :)
I play here real instruments (clarinet and guitar)and use Cubase vst for bass and drums

September Song (from Django Reinhardt's interpretation)

Such a wonderful classic ...so many great versions ...My best after the original is Birelli's https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGZSuXHiGjs ..tried to play the intro and some of the chords with the guitar ...Hope you like my little (quickly done) rendition with the clarinet :)

Isn't She Lovely (Stevie Wonder)

This idea of this jam  started after watching this wonderful camping jam with James Carter - www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxCgTHKe9Ss
I've been very very happy to welcome :
Soundwanderer https://soundcloud.com/soundwanderer for the guitar solos
Couch King https://soundcloud.com/couch-king-presents at the percussions
Fingerstyle https://soundcloud.com/fingerstyle_guitar with the  vocals
I took care of the rest !
Hope you enjoy ! Happy new year !

Sweet Sue - with Soundwanderer, Couch King & Fingerstyle_guitar

Wonderful biopic about an episode of Django's life released just recently ...  Got inspired from one of the tracks played at the very end of the movie 

Drums programming (Cubase), Guitar, Clarinet Bb : DDJohn (Steph)

Petite Mélodie Merveilleuse  ...

It's mother's day today  in France !
I can't find a better way to say all that than playing this jazz classic from Sidney Bechet
This is my little gipsy jazz version of it, Hope you like it ! 
Thank you for your kind listen and thoughts for all mothers today !
Kindly yours
Steph

Si tu vois ma mère (Sidney Bechet)- Gipsy Jazz version

Getting ready to play live for the fête de la musique ! Hope you like this clarinet version  very much inspired from Birelli's version ..; love that one so much !!(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcX3SVKcKVo)
If your feet start tapping and your fingers want to play on whatever instrument , please feel free to play and record yourself from the base track here https://soundcloud.com/ddjohn/blues-clair-base-17-06/s-FOTsV    
...I'd be more than happy to mix in your stem to celebrate music day not only in France !!
Have a great WE
Steph
Clarinets, guitar, bass & drums programming ...by  my little fingers ;-)

Blues Clair  (Django Reinhardt)..clarinet version

Not easy to follow Django in his choruses with the clarinet !!! I did my best until the end on this beautiful track evoking the elegance of a beautiful young lady walking down the streets .... of Paris ( I imagine !)  ... All the genius of Django is here I think with the incredible feel with the melody and harmonies .  This song was recorded in 1942 with his clarinetist Hubert Rostaing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVfmme3vGPY
Hope you like my humble tribute ! Have a great week Steph
Photo from Robert Doisneau

Lentement Mademoiselle (Django Reinhardt)

After watching Django Reinhardt 's recent biopic, a little mélodie was trotting in my mind ...So I made a clarinet version of it !https://soundcloud.com/ddjohn/petite-melodie
I was very pleasantly surprised  https://soundcloud.com/canette3-frostie found some fun lyrics and vocals  and brought some new ideas ... this is now a happy friday song thanks to Kat and Sc  !! Hope you like it !! Have a great Friday :))
PS :  This is specially dedicated to WE musicians  and to beautifully singing blackbird ;-)

Lyrics and vocals by Katerina Mrazkova
Original music, arrangement, instruments (including  whistle !), mix & master by DDJohn (Steph)

Petite Mélodie - with Kat

Involved in different local music associations with my clarinet  (in classic and jazzy mode) ,  I also  love to play the guitar, I love to try to create and produce music with Cubase and different other instruments at home. I love all forms of music. 
Thank you reading these lines, for your kind words , listens and all forms of appreciation and support, I'm always happy to explore,  discover new sounds  and collaborate on this unique platform with wonderful musicians  !!

2022 Collabs, Jams and Chansons :
https://on.soundcloud.com/pkz71
Proud to be inducted  in 2022 as an Official Lunatics after this:
https://soundcloud.com/cosmic-ratzzz/lunatics71-skyline-cosmic-ratzzz-ddjohn?si=aa7c346eca754497a8e4168605590197&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
Still so happy to listen to this one with my french SC buddies in the memory of Georges Brassens on this one :
https://soundcloud.com/ddjohn/les-copains-dabord-george-brassens-with-le-hot-club-de-soundcloud-quebec-usa-fra?si=ec03fb2f0b8b42b1b57522bf07221d14&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
...and loving to play with friends in the marvelous style of Django Reinhardt
https://soundcloud.com/ddjohn/sets/collabs-with-lami-bjp

Album/EP featurings @ the clarinet :

https://soundcloud.com/mountain-songs/take-cripple-club-collab-with-ddjohn-download?in=ddjohn/sets/2015-1/

https://open.spotify.com/album/2XfVKVx3ZE1qUBwoUojmfW
.... and @ the guitar :
https://chrispendergraft.bandcamp.com/track/aint-seen-the-worst-of-it-yet-tribute-to-jimmy-page