Giants of gypsy jazz come to Flowerfield

THE INSPIRATIONAL music of legendary gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt will be celebrated in Portstewart next month when the world’s leading clarinettist, Evan Christopher, presents his Django à la Créole masterpiece at Flowerfield Arts Centre, alongside guitarists Dave Kelbie and David Blenkhorn and bassist Sebastian Giradot.

Evan Christopher combines virtuosity and immaculate taste with a strong root in New Orleans jazz.

Elegant and impassioned, Evan’s style is steeped in the tradition of early jazz masters such as Sidney Bechet, Jimmie Noone, and Barney Bigard. He celebrates the music of the legendary Django Reinhardt and enlivens swing-era classics with fresh interpretations and virtuosic improvisation.

Conceived by Christopher, Django à la Créole, is a sultry fusion of gypsy swing with red hot rhythms from the streets of New Orleans, the Caribbean and Brazil. Django à la Créole was voted one of The Sunday Times Top 100 albums of 2008.

Its live incarnation is a not-to-be missed show as guitar, double bass and prodigious clarinet are woven together to bring us fresh interpretations of swing-era classics. The second album Finesse was the 2010 Sunday Times jazz album of the year.

Django à la Créole is based upon a simple concept. Christopher wanted to re-work tradition and spice up the Hot Club texture pioneered by Django Reinhardt by emphasising hallmarks of New Orleans jazz, including blues, rhythms of the monde Créole and collective improvisation.

The Flowerfield show, on Friday, June 1 is not to be missed – tickets are priced at £12, and this ticket price includes complimentary interval refreshments. You can buy tickets from the reception desk at Flowerfield Arts Centre, or you can purchase your tickets by phone with your debit card – call (028) 7083 1400 for details.