David Williams – “Who Let That Django Jazz into the Room?” (track review)

David Williams carries not an ounce of the glamor pervading much modern Americana in his bones. Rather, the songwriter carries a deep-seated and obvious respect for those who have laid the groundwork for contemporary roots music at large. Just the name of his newest album, Tipping My Hat to Leonard, would imply as much. The blend of folk, blues, and gypsy jazz that he brings to the table, too, feels a lot like his ode to Cohen, Waits, Reinhardt and all of those like them. Although, the tribute also begins and ends with a kindly moniker and a sonic likeness, since the whopping 16 tracks of which this LP are comprised are all originals. 

One of this writer’s favorites from off of Tipping My Hat to Leonard is “Who Let That Django Jazz into the Room?” It’s a playful gypsy jazz tune played out by Williams, duet partner Ellie Brown, and a masterful string band featuring Enion Pelta-Tiller on violin. For a title as on-the-nose as this one has, too, it’s a wonder that it isn’t far more irreverent than it is. Rather, it’s a swinging number that gives its leads plenty of time to share the spotlight with a spirited back-and-forth, all while rich instrumentation swirls beside them. 

Williams’ current music video for the tune features an earlier version of the song from 2012 without Brown, but it’s still worth a watch for its impressive graphical display alone. Through MS Paint, each slide tells a story, and funnily enough, not even this seems like it’s not taking itself all that seriously. Moreover an ironic display juxtaposed against an overproduced world of pop grandiosity, its simple artwork feels far more charming than it could ever feel like it doesn’t care.

To hear (and purchase) the new version of “Who Let That Django Jazz into the Room?”, visit Tipping My Hat to Leonard’s CDBaby page.

Words by: Jonathan Frahm (@jfrahm_)