Gypsy-jazz fest melds tradition, innovation in tribute to pioneer
Despite a fire that robbed him of the use of two fingers, guitarist Django Reinhardt became a towering figure in jazz.
The Belgium-born pioneer of gypsy jazz, who died in 1953, is viewed as one of the 20th century’s musical geniuses. And his legacy remains strong, says Oliver Swain.
Swain, a Victoria bassist, is founder and artistic director of the Victoria Django Festival, which runs Friday, Saturday and Tuesday. Now in its sixth season, its not-so-subtle motto is “… with Django Reinhardt as our godhead.”
“As far as I know, we are the only 100 per cent devoted Django Reinhardt-inspired music festival in Canada,” Swain said.
The Victoria Django Festival hosts a gaggle of local and out-of-town bands that play Reinhardt’s songs — or at least embrace his gypsy-jazz style. This year, the festival’s headliners are the Gonzalo Bergara Quartet and Hedgehog Swing.
Led by Argentine guitarist Gonzalo Bergara, this quartet plays a contemporary version of Reinhardtinspired gypsy jazz. The group says it aims to meld the sounds of Buenos Aires and Paris.
Touting them as “one of the most exciting groups in the genre right now,” Swain says the Gonzalo Bergara Quartet boasts a secret weapon. It is Leah Zeger, the classically trained violinist who plays Stephane Grappelli to Bergara’s Reinhardt.
Hedgehog Swing, from Long Beach, California, offers a more traditional interpretation of gypsy jazz.
“What we try to do with the festival is bring forward some of the great traditional exponents of the music, and then mix them in with the really innovative ensembles,” Swain said.
Both the Gonzalo Bergara Quartet and Hedgehog Swing play Saturday at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church along with Deanne Knight and the Hot Club of Mars, the Seaside Swingers (a dance company) and circus performer Jack West.
There’s also a “dance and speakeasy” at the White Eagle Hall on Friday with Hedge Swing, Deanna Knight and the Hot Club of Mars and the Tree Top Trio. And there is a Valentine’s dinner concert at Northern Quarter on Tuesday with the Gonzalo Bergara Quartet and pianist Misha Piatigorsky.
Swain notes the gypsy-jazz revival is an international trend, with festivals happening across Europe and the U.S.
“The music’s has a resurgence in recent years,” he said. “And Victoria has been somewhat on the forefront of that.”