Stephane Grappelli

[ColinB]

Hi Swarb

Another amateur fiddler here, having played since I was a lad. Going off on a jazz tangent here, one of the best gigs I've ever been to was the late great Stephane Grappelli back in 88 when he was on his 80th birthday tour. I was blown away not just by his playing but he seemed so relaxed on stage with some lovely banter between him and his guitarist (prob Martin Taylor).

So my question is, did you ever meet and\or play with him?

Colin B

[Swarb]

sorry to say i never did, there was talk of an album together, it never happened and a good thing to I think, crossover albums in my opinion dont work, i would have to have learned jazz and he would have had to of learned folk, you have to ask yourself why? I would have loved to have met him but we moved in different circles i suppose   swarb

[ColinB]

Interesting you say that. I'd have thought that the collaboration between Grappelli and Yehudi Menuhin would have been more difficult as classical musicians aren't known for their improvisation skills, whereas there must be more common ground between jazz and folk fiddle players.

Having said that, the only collaboration I can think of between musicians from different backgrounds which I enjoy listening to is the album Pete Towshend made with classically trained pianist and harpist Raphael Rudd.

Probably easier to stick with other folkies, eg the Transatlantic Sessions. Or when Aly Bain recorded with musicians in Louisiana. Just dug out the tape of Aly Bain meets The Cajuns. That was 20 years ago!

You a fan of Cajun music Swarb?

[Swarb]

I like anything with afiddle in it