What they say about us...

"Given its talent, this group does not have the fame it deserves, in my humble opinion; driven by a flawless rhythm section (Youri is one of the best accompanists in this style), the improvisations and interplay of the two remarkable soloists are consistently inspired. A marvelous evening with exceptionally accessible and friendly musicians.

Why isn't this excellent quartet on the program at Samois? Dear organizers, contact the Sinti Swing Quartet, you won't regret it!"

Francis Couvreux, Trad Magazine
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"The temperature rises from one piece to the next. The first half of the concert ends with a standing ovation! Then the gypsy swing starts up again, with the virtuosity that characterizes the group... The complicity between the four musicians is perfect and almost palpable. And what rhythm!... The large audience applauds with all its might."

Le Progrès, 22/04/2007

"Crazy rhythms, skill, technical mastery : everyone played flat out, but in a completely natural way. John Intrator certainly deserves the compliments he received from Stéphane Grappelli, and his accompanists were also excellent. Quite simply superb!"

FESTIVAL de JAZZ de SERRES, July 2006

"Without ever forcing his virtuosity, Sebastien brings swing and fluidity to his long, limpid and melodic lines, which he articulates with beautiful clarity... In superb form on the Latin numbers, the violinist John Intrator plays the ballads with sensitivity and elegance and brings excellent drive to the swing tunes.

As to the rhythm section, it is flawless - Alain Dessauges’ solid double bass and Youri's metronomic guitar backing are a perfect springboard for the soloists... pure gypsy swing played with sophistication, brilliance and ease. Bravo!"

Francis Couvreux, REVUE ETUDES TSIGANES, October 2007
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"Trad Magazine; 16 and 17 november in Sainte-Savine (10), concerts by the Sinti Swing Quartet.

As part of international solidarity week, and in partnership with the Maison pour tous de Sainte-Savine, a meeting with the Sinti Swing Quartet was organized by the archivist at the Edouard Herriot high school. Three grades worked with their teachers on a highly instructive exhibit on "the voyagers", prior to meeting the musicians late in the afternoon of November 16, for a presentation of gypsy swing, a question and answer period, and a concert. This successful event was part of the ECJS 12th-grade program (minorities and integration).

The following evening, the quartet played to over 100 people at the Maison pour tous. In my humble opinion, this group (Sebastien Felix, solo guitare; Youri Felix, rhythm guitar; John Intrator, violin and Michel Tournier, double bass) does not have the renown its talent deserves; driven by a flawless rhythm section (Youri is one of the best accompanists in this style), the improvisations and interplay of the two remarkable soloists were consistently inspired. A marvelous evening with exceptionally accessible and friendly musicians.

Why isn't this excellent quartet on the program at Samois? Dear organizers, contact the Sinti Swing Quartet, you won't regret it!

Francis Couvreux (Trad Magazine)

"Sinti Swing Quartet "Brazil", Autoprod. 2007

The Felix brothers (Sebastien, solo guitar and Youri, rhythm guitar) play the music they grew up with, which made them what they are today both as musicians and as men: the music of Django Reinhardt, authentic and 100% "manouche". They play this music not just to earn a living, but above all as an affirmation of their identity. If the recent fad for gypsy swing has attracted the wider public to the style, so much the better: it helps these wonderful gypsy musicians make ends meet, while allowing them to reach an audience outside their own community.

Sebastien and Youri created their trio in 1994, and in 2001 the trio became a quartet with the arrival of  the violinist John Intrator. "Brazil' is their third CD, and the most fully realized: coherent, tight, swinging, and inspired. The Felix brothers are perfect representatives of the living tradition of gypsy swing. Without revolutionizing the style, they revitalize it with a timely and classy diversification of the repertoire: waltzes ("Swing Valse", played alternately by violin and guitar); ballads (Stardust); swing tunes (Django's "Swing Guitar");  latin tunes ("Brazil", Laurindo Almeida's superb "Menina Moca", or "Recado Bossa Nova", with Sebastien's luminous electric guitar); standards not often played in this style ("Jumpin' at the Woodside" or "Bernie's Tune"); as welll as solid original compositions ("Pour Tanguy" by Sebastien, "Gypsy Bop", John’s "Adieu", or Youri's remarkable "Sinti Swing"). Sebastien Felix has been influenced by the Alsatian school, particularly by Tchavolo Schmitt (rapid-fire, precise attack, crackling notes), but his phrasing is more disciplined and less instinctive than the Strasbourg master's. Without ever forcing his virtuosity, Sebastien brings swing and fluidity to his long, limpid and melodic lines, which he articulates with beautiful clarity, at times reminiscent of the Dutch school. His choice of an electric Jacobacci guitar on four tunes is a good one (note his beautiful sound on "Jumpin' at the Woodside", driven by a rock-solid rhythm section, or the lovely version of "Insensiblement", with its more airy phrasing).

John Intrator, on violin, has assimilated the styles of Stephane Grappelli as well as of the great Kansas City violinist Claude Williams into his own playing (cf "Viper's Dream", for example). In superb form on the Latin numbers, he plays the ballads with sensitivity and elegance (Ike Issac's "Joy", "Stardust"), and brings excellent drive to the swing tunes. As to the rhythm section, it is flawless-- Alain Dessauges’ solid double bass and Youri's metronomic guitar backing are a perfect springboard for the soloists.

With Brazil, their third and very successful CD, the Felix brothers mark their return to the recording studio. There are a few changes, however. Good-bye trio, welcome to the quartet: John Intrator, who appeared only as a guest on the previous album, returns to his rightful place as co-leader, which
he'd held previously in 2001. In addition the Swiss Alain Dessauges replaces Bernard Chalon on double bass.

So much for the protagonists--what about the album? First of all, the rhythm section is excellent: Alain Dessauges does a flawless job in preparing the ground for the soloists, while Youri continues to confirm that he is a first-rate accompanist with each new recording. John Intrator draws his inspiration from Grappelli and Claude Williams (a Kansas City violinist who played with Count Basie), and is particularly inspired on the ballads...though we prefer him even more on the up-tempo swing tunes ("Jumpin' at the Woodside"), where his exceptional drive electrifies the whole group! As to Sebastien, his exceptional technique never overshadows his always original inspiration--his solos sound completely spontaneous and are literally staggering!

Sinti Swing play ,as always, with authenticity, sincerity, simplicity and heart--an art of playing, anchored in tradition, like the art of life. "

DJANGO STATION.COM, October 2007