News

Announcing: Paul Mehling and Evan Price (of the Hot Club of SF) will be teaching a gypsy jazz ensemble at the Jazzschool Institute in Berkeley this summer. This will be a twice- weekly 3-hour class, 1-4pm --5 weeks, from July 2 -- August 3, Auditions for Summer 2012 By Appointment
First Day of Summer Instruction July 2

Last Day of Spring Instruction August 3

We all have more to learn and there will be plenty of playing, so sign up! And don't wait!.
http://www.jazzschool.com/

Here's the course description:
Ens204 Gypsy Jazz Ensemble
Elective -- 2 units, 2 hours lab An ensemble in the style of Django Reinhardt's and Stephane Grappelli's Quintet of the Hot Club of France. Beginning with their first recordings in 1934, these two innovators forged a new genre -- gypsy jazz or jazz Manouche -- acoustic music combining pumping, infectious rhythm with virtuosity, inventiveness, and soul. Students learn the subtleties of the rhythm guitar technique known as la pompe, the special role of the bass in a drum-less rhythm section, as well as the distinctive improvisational dialect intrinsic to the style. Instrumentation: voice, violin, viola, cello, accordion, solo guitar, rhythm guitar and bass.