Evan Christopher’s Django à la Créole Tours Europe

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European Gypsy swing meets the music and rhythms of “le monde Creole” in this seductive and captivating project led by New Orleans-based clarinetist Evan Christopher. Renowned for his contemporary framing of early jazz masters.

Evan Christopher’s Django à la Créole spices up the hot Gypsy swing pioneered by Django Reinhardt with the cool Creole rhythms of New Orleans and beyond. The American clarinetist and Europe-based rhythm section consisting of Sebastien Girardot (FR) on double bass, with Don Vappie (New Orleans) and Dave Kelbie (UK) on guitars. The quartet artfully contrasts virtuosity with an acoustic, intimate approach that unfailingly balances a reverence for tradition while still being up-to-the minute and in-the moment.

The primary inspiration for this unique fusion of New Orleans clarinet with “Jazz Manouche” was Reinhardt’s historic recording session in 1939 with Duke Ellington sidemen Rex Stewart and Creole clarinetist Barney Bigard. Djangologists may recognize a resemblance to the incarnation of “Quintet of the Hot Club of France” that featured clarinetist Hubert Rostaing, yet Django à la Créole is much more than a repertory ensemble. Christopher and his band thoughtfully re-invent classic material by infusing their arrangements with musical idioms from New Orleans as well as Brazil, Cuba and the Caribbean. The results are personal and often clever tributes to their jazz heroes.

The mastery of rhythm guitarist, Dave Kelbie is known well by anyone who follows contemporary exponents of Gypsy jazz such as Tcha Limberger or Fapy Lafertin. On the other hand, the pedigree of bassist Sebastien Girardot is more recognized pertinent to aficionados of traditional jazz. For the solo guitar chair, the band recently welcomed New Orleans native, Don Vappie. Besides being a highly skilled guitarist, Vappie contributes warm vocal renderings of authentic Creole Jazz songs, classics from the early days of New Orleans, as well as jaw-dropping banjo features.

01-10-2015  Borough Theatre
02-10-2015  Wiltshire music centre
03-10-2015  Arena Theatre
04-10-2015  The 1st Django Reinhardt festival of Shrewsbury
06-10-2015  The Sage
07-10-2015  Royal Northern College of Music
08-10-2015  Yellow Arch studios
09-10-2015  Marsden jazz festival
10-10-2015  Sunside Sunset
11-10-2015  Sunside Sunset
13-10-2015  Crooked Billet
14-10-2015  Concorde Club
16-10-2015  Frant Parish Church, Frant UK
17-10-2015  The Theatre Chipping Norton
18-10-2015  Pizza Express Jazz Club

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Last modified: July 15, 2018