Scroll down for Jpeg. photos, Django Latino info. and short bio

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Joe and Compass Records, in cooperation with Crowart Records, celebrate the re-release of

DJANGO LATINO; Compositions of gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt and violinist Stéphane Grappelli through a musical lens of Latin America. Inspired by musical styles and rhythms from Cuba to Argentina, from Spain to the USA, Craven uniquely showcases melodies by two of the most significant musicians of 20th century string jazz within a landscape of cumbia, merengue, samba, tango, Latin jazz and more!

Written and recorded from the 1930s through the early 1950s, the music of Reinhardt and Grappelli, as performed in settings such as their group the Quintet of the Hot Club of France, sparked a whole new style of "string swing" or "gypsy jazz" now performed and enjoyed by people around the world.   

Here, for the first time, classic tunes such as Minor Swing, Nuages and Swing 42 are interpreted via the dance rhythms of the Puerto Rican plena, and the Cuban danzón and son. Along with an incredible cast of guest artists, Craven's admiration of the rich weave of Latin American music is presented on 14 cuts paying tribute to the beauty and fire of Ritmo Latino y Musiqué Le Club Hot!

Multi-instrumentalist of the David Grisman Quintet from 1989 to 2005, Craven has been deemed by Grisman, "the world's most versatile sideman." Versatile sideman sure, but utterly unique frontman? You bet. His first solo release in 1996, CAMPTOWN, received rave reviews nationwide and was truly one of the most interesting and listenable releases of the year. By combining his love for traditional American folk, blues, jazz, and country music, his equal passion for world music's unique melodies and rhythms, and an artist's playful sense that anything can be a musical instrument if you just look at it right, Craven successfully creates a musically challenging yet thoroughly delightful mix.

Short press biography...

JOE CRAVEN is a madman with anything that has strings attached; violin, mandolin, tin can, bedpan, cookie tin, tenor guitar, mouth bow, banjo, berimbau, balalaika, boot ‘n lace plus a world of percussion instruments including animal bones, squeeze toys, cake pans, waste cans, umbrella stands, martini shakers and; Himself.  Educator, former museum curator, visual artist, actor/storyteller, festival emcee and former 17-year vet for mandolinist David Grisman, Joe has recorded and played with folks ranging from jazz violinist Stephane Grappelli to Grateful Dead Guitarist Jerry Garcia to The Persuasions.

An advocate of the folk arts, Joe’s educational mission is to empower individuals to take possession of their own music and tell their stories by “demystifying” art through self-expression as a daily ritual.

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Joe’s own wildly varied recordings CAMPTOWN, MO’ JOE and DJANGO LATINO stretch the boundaries of musical style

while paying tribute to and forwarding evolving musical traditions. www.joecraven.com

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