Django Jamboree 2012, October 6 Louisville KY
International Gypsy Jazz Artists, October 6, 2012
Master Classes:
U of L Strickler Hall
11:00 AM-4:30 PM
$40.00 each, $125 for 3 classes and concert
Concert:
U of L Strickler Hall, Middleton Auditorium
7:30 PM-10:00 PM
$20.00 advance, $25.00 day of show
“Stompin’ at Decca” after concert jam session
at Decca Restaurant, 812 East Market Street Louisville, KY
10:00 PM til ??
The Artists:
(click names for links to artist’s websites)
The Details:
International jazz musicians Gonzalo Bergara Quartet, Ben Powell, and Denis Chang will perform and teach in Louisville, October 6, 2012 at the Second Annual Django Jamboree. Also performing will be Brooklyn based “Franglais” and Louisville’s own “Swing ’39″. The celebration of gypsy jazz will feature a concert in Strickler Hall at the University of Louisville as well as Master Classes and informal jam sessions throughout the day. The University of Louisville School of Music’s World Music Concert series is co-sponsoring the event with local producer/musician Ben Andrews.
The concert features two styles of gypsy jazz: the traditional form as Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli performed with The Quintette of the Hot Club of France in the 1930s and 40s; and the exciting contemprorary version emerging in jazz clubs today. Ben Powell, a classical trained jazz violinist and rising star from England, and Denis Chang, a Canadian guitar virtuoso, will perform an homage to Django Reinhardt and The Quintette of the Hot Club of France. The Gonzalo Bergara Quartet (GBQ), based in Los Angeles, will perform origional compositions and modern takes on the classics with lead acoustic guitarist Bergara, a native of Argentina, Jeffrey Radaich on Rhythm Guitar, Leah Zeger on violin, and Brian Netzley on Upright Bass.
Ben Powell’s multi-stylistic abilities allow him to perform with great artists, irrespective of musical genre: from Paul Simon, Herbie Hancock, Gloria Estefan, and Stevie Winwood to classical conductors Sir Roger Norrington, Marin Alsop, Yan Pascal Tortelier and Keith Lockhart. In 2010 the Betty Carter Jazz Ahead Program selected Ben as a scholar at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. While living in Paris, Ben recently performed with gypsy jazz legends Bireli Lagrene, Tchavalo Schmitt, Didier Lockwood, Costel Nitescu, Stochelo Rosenberg, Florin Niculescu, and Adrien Moignard among others. Ben had the privilege of performing for First Lady Laura Bush and Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan. Ben Powell is gaining a reputation as one of the leading jazz violinists of his generation.
Denis Chang, a virtuoso guitarist and teacher, spent his formative years alongside the greatest Jazz Manouche guitarists: Fapy Lafertin, Ritary Gaguenetti, Paulus Schäfer, Rindo Winterstein and Emmanuel Kassimo. Chang quickly developed his own style and now frequently introduces his own compositions in performances. Denis Chang performs regularly on many Quebec stages including the Festival international de jazz de MontréaL. His teaching methods are in high demand. In 2008, Chang had the honor of being invited to perform with the legendary Les Paul at the Iridium in New York.
Gonzalo Bergara has toured worldwide with John Jorgensen Quintet, as well as performed and recorded with hundreds of artists including Tim Hausser from Manhattan Transfer, Sylvie Vartan, Dan Hicks and The Hot Licks, Howard Alden and more. After touring with the Jorgenson Quintet, Bergara emerged as a guitar virtuoso, forging his own style of progressive Gypsy Jazz. A native of Argentina, Gonzalo began playing professionally at age 16 in Buenos Aires. By 17 he was already fronting his own blues trio on National Television. In 2000, at age 19, he arrived in America.
Master classes at all levels will be held at the University’s Strictler Hall on Saturday between 11:30 to 5:30. Ben Powell, Denis Chang, and Gonzalo Bergara will teach 90 minute classes. All levels of ability welcome!
Stompin’ at Decca jam session featuring local jazz musicians and our Gypsy Jazz guests to be at Decca Restaurant after the concert. Open to the public!
Links to the performers:
Ben Powell (w/ Adrien Moignard, Django Jamboree 2011)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZY3H-xrHlQ (Ben’s solo is at 2:50 into the tune)
Denis Chang
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_cm6IgQJF4 (Denis’ solo is at 1:35 into tune)
Gonzalo Bergara (Django in June, 2009)