Sinti

July 11 - July 18, 1 9 9 6 [Off the Record]

**1/2 Sinti

SINTI

(Columbia)

The latest adepts of the gypsy swing created by guitarist Django Reinhardt in the 1930s are the trio Sinti -- Rosenberg brothers Jimmy, 15, and Johnny, 17, plus third guitarist Rinus Steinbach. Gypsy swing differs from other European swing guitar by virtue of its rhythmic snap, flamenco fire, and natural kinship with Eastern/Islamic modes.

Lead guitarist Jimmy has been anointed by such elders as Babik Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli. Seventeen tracks in 47 minutes implies a brisker minimalism than practically anything except hardcore punk and sound-effects albums. The arrangements are cute, if a bit pat, focusing insistently on Jimmy's deft handiwork and mirror-polished craft. Sinti play their history lessons with sharp technique ("Ojos Negros") and as yet minimal interplay, but they do add in their own spark ("Blues for Ike"), sense of fun ("Flintstones"), and tidy bits of soulfulness ("For Wesley"). And their sponge-like absorption of influences is limitless; their recent live set at Scullers showed their widening palette -- not only the album's Stevie Wonder, Duke Ellington, and Burt Bacharach, but also Patsy Cline, John Lewis, and Count Basie.

-- Fred Bouchard