JazzWest.com & the Starry Plough presents Gypsy Jazz from Around the Bay May 7, 2011

GYPSY JAZZ FROM AROUND THE BAY @ The Starry Plough, Berkeley on Saturday, May 7th, 2011
Featuring Gaucho, The George Cole Quintet, and Beso Negro
JazzWest.com and the Starry Plough are pleased to present a sampling of the Bay Area’s rich crop of current Django disciples. Gypsy Jazz or Jazz Manouche is a highly energetic, swinging, intricate style of music that originated in France in the 1930’s with Django Reinhardt and the Quintette du Hot Club de France. It’s pulsing rhythm and stirring melodies have found a home in the hearts of these talented and internationally recognized local artists.
Saturday, May 7th, 2011
The Starry Plough
3101 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94705
(510) 841-2082
http://www.starryploughpub.com
8:30pm // $12 // 21+ // wheelchair accessible

Representing the West Bay:
GAUCHO (Porto Franco Records http://www.gauchojazz.com/)
Gaucho is a Spanish word derived from "gadjo" - the Romany (Gypsy) word for non-gypsy man. "Gaucho has its own feel," group's founder Dave Ricketts says. "It has a Gypsy jazz sound, but we don't focus on that rhythm. I'm not trying to say we're reinventing swing, but we've got our own signature. We also find inspiration in the rhythmic drive and collective improvisation of New Orleans swing music, that great gut bucket sound."

Originally a trio featuring Ricketts, guitarist Michael Groh and stand-up bassist Ari Munkres (Hot Club of San Francisco), Gaucho quickly attracted a dazzling cast of improvisers including accordion ace Rob Reich (Nice Guy Trio), drummer/percussionist Pete Devine (who gained a national following with the ragtime trio Bo Grumpus and recently started Devine's Jug Band), and reed expert Ralph Carney, a brilliantly expressive player best known for his many recordings with Tom Waits. The repertoire ranges from early American Songbook standards and classic blues to vintage Latin American hits and Tin Pan Alley pop numbers.

Representing the East Bay:
THE GEORGE COLE QUINTET (http://www.georgecole.net)
The George Cole Quintet’s superbly crafted and melodically sophisticated original music reminds us of the best of George Gershwin, Johnny Mercer, and Cole Porter. The band’s highly stylized approach, technical mastery and fast and furious guitar playing is in the tradition of Django Reinhardt. It includes crooning vocals, a gift for comic gab and romantic duets with vocalist, Molly Mahoney. George's music suggests a hot sultry evening in a Parisian nightclub in the 1940's and the sophistication of master craftsman. The mix of high energy guitar playing, soaring violin flights by Julian Smedley, and propulsive "le pompe" rhythm guitar style creates a dynamic musical experience. George Cole has just returned from playing and singing duets with Keely Smith at the Rrazz Room in San Francisco. He has performed at Carnegie Hall in New York and sold out shows at The Freight & Salvage in Berkeley. He dazzled audiences at a Grammy Artist’s Showcase.

George Cole is a lead guitarist, vocalist, composer, and bandleader. In addition to fronting his own quintet, he was lead guitarist for Bay Area bands Big Blue Hearts (Geffen/Interscope) and Beatnik Beatch (Atlantic). George has toured with Joe Walsh, performed with Warren Zevon and Buster Poindexter, and recorded with producer Roy Thomas Baker (Queen and Paul McCartney). He played on Chris Isaak's platinum selling “Forever Blue” album. George has also been a guitar instructor to many young musicians including Billie Joe Armstrong and Mike Dirnt of Green Day, and won a California Music Award for Best New Major Label Artist.

and

Representing the North Bay:
BESO NEGRO (http://www.besonegro.net)
Beso Negro plays Gypsy Jazz with such drive and fluidity; you might never guess they have only been a band since Winter 2010. They capture the infectious dance rhythm of Jazz Manouch and crank it up to 11. Their repertoire of Standards and original Gypsy Jazz along with Adam Roach's singularly powerful voice sets them apart from other bands. Additionally their improvisation creates magic on stage that must to be seen. In that short time they have already been invited to headline the Freight and Salvage Coffee House and open the Gypsy Jazz Around the Bay showcase at the Starry Plough. Featuring members of Culann’s Hounds, Darktown Ramblers, and Dale Watsons' band.

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