Yes, it’s Swingtime in Springtime again.
There’s a jazz musicians’ joke that goes: ‘What’s the difference between a jazz guitarist and a pop/Country guitarist?’ Answer: ‘A pop/Country guitarist plays three chords to a hundred people, and a jazz guitarist plays a hundred chords to … ’
Maybe it’s not really a joke. Next time you listen to a jazz guitarist take note of the many subtle chord changes being played, then think about how Django Reinhardt, with only three fingers on his fret playing hand, became one of the most innovative and influential guitarists in the formative years of jazz in the 1930s and 40s.
From his roots in Romany music, through his famous Quintette du Hot Club de France playing in the cafes and clubs in Paris, Django became not only the pre-eminent jazz musician in Europe but was also acknowledged in America when he played with musicians like Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie. In 1943 he toured the US with Duke Ellington’s orchestra.
Django’s brand of playing, along with his violinist collaborator Stephane Grapelli, became known as gypsy jazz, gypsy swing or, simply, Django music. Although he died aged 43 his popularity and legacy, especially amongst jazz guitarists, endures to this day.
Django’s brand of playing, along with his violinist collaborator Stephane Grapelli, became known as gypsy jazz, gypsy swing or, simply, Django music.
And so, in Martinborough Town Hall on Friday 4 September, Jazz in Martinborough is pleased to present ‘Les Tripes’ playing the music of Django Reinhardt. Then, on Saturday 5 September the 1930s theme continues with a concert of Cole Porter music presented by Zak Dikvert’s Zak Pack featuring vocalist Lisa Tomlins. To use one of Porter’s best-known song titles – It’s Delightful, it’s Delicious, it’s De-Lovely.
The weekend of JIM’s Swingtime in Springtime kicks off on Thursday 3 September with Jan Preston’s Boogie Circus. Jan is an Australian-based New Zealander who has an international reputation as a fine exponent of piano boogie, originally known as boogie woogie with its roots in America’s South jukes, bars and turpentine camps before it spread to the more sophisticated venues of the northern cities through the 1930s and 40s (and then across the Atlantic in the 50s when Winifred Atwell’s Black and White Rag hit the pop music charts).
All that jazz comes to the Martinborough Town Hall on the first weekend of September.
Tickets are $49 plus booking fee available from iTicket and iSite from 4 July, and more information will be on JIM’s website jazzinmartinborough.co.nz and Facebook.
