DJM-ROMANE 4tet

With a deep passion for his instrument, DJM has established himself as one of the staunchest advocates of the style known as “gypsy jazz.” This genre, which beautifully highlights the violin’s sound alongside guitars and a double bass, creates an intimate setup, perfect for a unique and instantly recognizable energy.

DJM has crafted an original repertoire for a quartet featuring Romane on guitar, Julien Cattiaux on rhythm guitar, and Michel Rosciglione on double bass.

Their debut album, Rendez-Vous, produced by the Italian label Tosky Records, was warmly received both in France and internationally. Their music took them to the United States, where they had the opportunity to perform and teach in Massachusetts and New York. They were also invited to perform in England, Ireland, and Japan, but these tours had to be postponed due to the 2020 health crisis. (To be continued!)

Undeterred, the group used this time to return to the studio and record a second album featuring around fifteen original compositions. For this new project, DJM, Romane, and Julien Cattiaux were joined by the talented double bassist William Brunard. The release of this album is now scheduled for early 2023.

In the meantime, here is a liner note for Rendez-Vous by Jean-Michel Proust (TSF Jazz, Le Nouvel Observateur):

Entering Django’s world is like entering a religion. It is embodied by a marvelous palace you do not merely visit but inhabit. It resonates with a philosophy of life, a constant poetry, demanding reverence, courtesy, elegance, respect, and a true art of sharing, collective effort, mutual listening, and elevation. Thus, Djangology is born! Romane and Daniel John-Martin are part of this church. Everything they touch owes a little, or even a lot, to the god Django. He is love and preaches tolerance. Everything is permitted as long as he is not forgotten. Django’s presence pervades this album, even though only one piece, Nuages, is directly from his pen. This piece, a sublime string quartet arrangement by Daniel, is a bonus track that highlights the mutual admiration between the two protagonists. It is an unreleased title, originating from a 2000 recording project where the violinist invited Romane—already 19 years ago! 

For this new rendezvous under the aegis of the brilliant gypsy, Daniel John-Martin, the lyrical violinist, chose Paris—its streets, its neighborhoods, its musicians, its atmospheres filled with nostalgia, memories, and ineffable joys—as the inspiration alongside the subtle guitarist Romane. The album evokes the streets Daniel loves in Paris, from the Abbesses district to Montmartre, the moods that move him, and the friends he has not forgotten.

This album carries the distinctive mark of Daniel John-Martin, a violinist-composer-arranger-whistler-singer born in England, living in France, and raised in Africa. Most of the tracks are his own compositions. A violinist inspired by Stéphane Grappelli, Stuff Smith, and Didier Lockwood, Daniel pays homage to the latter twice in this album, with Didier, dedicated to him, and by interpreting Martinique, adding a joyful and danceable touch to the record. Friends are ever-present in this album, with Cher Rocky for Rocky Gresset, and La Sausse for Patrick Saussois, with whom Daniel recorded a live album in England. The album brims with emotions, nostalgia, vivid colors, and love. We keep coming back to it!

Romane, ever-faithful and elegant, with a precise and delicate phrasing, finds here a remarkable playground. The bond between him and Daniel is evident in every arrangement. Together, they co-arranged the entire repertoire. Their mastery of collective artistry shines through in this quartet of perfectly connected musicians. Let us mention the excellent Michel Rosciglione on double bass and the equally magnificent Julien Cattiaux on rhythm guitar—their drive is impeccable. From the very first measures, something grabs you and doesn’t let go. Retour à Montmartre is a little masterpiece that takes you by the hand, guiding you on this journey until Nuages. The joy of being together here is truly the joy of shared connection—between them, us, and all who share the same devotion.