August 13 2025, Barrington Arms, Shrivenham

Swing from Paris is a jazz string-quartet, playing music inspired by the 1930s, 40s and 50s. Their repertoire covers music from Benny Goodman, Charlie Christian and Artie Shaw through to Django Reinhart, Stephan Grappelli and Astor Piazola

The line-up includes Fenner Curtis (violin), Andy Bowen and Sam Hughes (guitars) and Tomasz Williams (Double Bass).

On the night, we were treated to a super set of Paris-centric tunes – a real case of closing one’s eyes and being transported away in time and space. It was very noticeable too, that this group produced a wonderfully clear sound, due in part to some fine instruments and quality back-line and PA.

They opened with ‘Flying Home’ and followed up with ‘I Love Paris’ (Cole Porter), Si Tu Voi Ma Mere (Sidney Bechet, 1952), ‘Girl Crazy’ (Gerschwinn Bros) and then 2 Django tunes, ‘I’m Confessing’ and ‘Mont San Genoveve’ .

Next up, we were treated to ‘Oblivion’ by Aster Piazola, architect of the Nuevo Tango. An awesome rendition of the 1982 tune, it had soaring, sad violin over a clean guitar with just a touch of reverb. Interestingly, we also had this one from our last visitors, the Steve Waterman Quartet. Great to hear different versions.

Next, from ‘Lady be Good’, ‘The Man I Love’ ( 1927. Gerschwinn Bros), ‘Minor Swing’ a Django original in the stle of his one time rythym player Marcel Bianchi. This, to me, had a lovely ‘call and response’ between instruments and a doubling in parts, which added a ‘chorus’ like quality.

After the break, we were treated to the 1945 Arty Shaw number ‘The Grabtown Grapple’, written for his then squeeze, Eva Gardner. That was followed by the same composer’s ‘Nightmare’ which was run straight into ‘Karioka’, famously the first on-screen dance of Fred Astaire. Nightmare was nothing of the sort; though dark to start, it developed into a driving shuffle with a break that reminded me of the Girl from Ipanema!

Next up, the band delivered ‘I can’t give you anything but love’ by George Barnes, 1928. They recommended Barnes’ octet, which produced some very humorous arrangements – always worth checking a good recommendation!

Next, 1952 number ‘Lullaby of Birdland’ by George Schering – former pianist to Stephan Grappelli who settled in Chipping Camden! This tune is Lullaby of Birdland. 1938 ‘Deep in a Dream’, by Jimmy Van Huesen and then 1928 ‘Embraceable You’ by the Gerschwinn Bros. Deep in a Dream was a highlight for me with a lovely underpinning bass line with the guitar and violin in concert above. Then Dizzy Gillespie’s ‘Tangorine’ with his State Department Band from 1956. Very much to my taste! Recognisable Tango with real drive from the guitars.

Penultimately, we had ‘Tiger Rag’ (Reinhardt and Grappelli) – an upbeat crowd pleaser before being treated to an encore of ‘After You’ve Gone’, inspired by Grappelli and Reinhardt. Great closer!

This was a fantastic show – definitely worth looking out for these guys in the future.