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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 23, 2003)
sound, “a unique blend of Eastern European melodies, Parisian musette, Spanish fla- menco and American swing.” Today, the atti- tude born in Parisian cafés 80 years ago is en- joyed all over the world. Neil Andersson, formerly of the Wailers, and Dudley Hill played jazz as a duo for four years before bassist David “Pope” Firman joined the pair in 1994 and the trio became Pearl Django. Shelley Park joined in 1995, contributing a rhythmic guitar sense. That same year, Pearl Django recorded its debut effort Le Jazz Hot. The next year Andersson, Hill and Park made their presence known at the Django Reinhardt festival in Samois-Sur- Seine, France, the town where Reinhardt spent the last years of his life. Pearl Django’s jazz pays homage to guitarist Django Reinhardt and violinist Stephane Grappelli, who together pioneered the Gypsy Swing sound, “a unique blend of Eastern European melodies, Parisian musette, Spanish flamenco and American swing.” The festival is ground zero for Reinhardt fans and Gypsy Swing players, and though Pearl Django was not an official part of the festival, the band’s performances at local jam sessions turned heads. 1996 saw the band adding yet another layer of luster with the ad- dition of violinist Michael Gray and the re- lease of “New Metropolitan Swing.” While the band’s musicianship excelled and fans the world over took notice, “Pope” Firman left the group. The new bassist, Rick Leppanen, took over just in time to record the next CD, 1999’s Mystery Pacific. Also in 1999 the group released Souvenirs, a tribute to the music of Stephane Grappelli, spear- headed by Gray, a fan and “perennial stu- dent” of Grappelli. The fifth CD, Avalon, was arguably the “break-through” CD, having achieved top 40 status on the Gavin jazz charts for seven weeks. Now people really knew what Pearl Django was all about. Despite the success, the band continues to have line-up changes — Park left the band last year and was replaced by guitarist Greg Ruby, who is also a member of Hot Club Sandwich. Last year, the band’s sixth release, Under Paris Skies, saw the light, and Pearl Django finally performed officially in Samois-Sure-Seine’s Django Reinhardt Festival, coming full circle, and ready for more. ew NEXT WEEK! PORTLAND, OR • OCTOBER 27 ROSELAND • ALL AGES • 8PM SUBJECT TO SERVICE CHARGE AND/OR USER FEE EUGENE, OR • OCTOBER 28 W.O.W. HALL • ALL AGES • 8PM SUBJECT TO SERVICE CHARGE AND/OR USER FEE SEATTLE, WA • OCTOBER 29 SHOWBOX • ALL AGES • 8PM SUBJECT TO SERVICE CHARGE AND/OR USER FEE ON SALE NOW! Wolfpac The R.O.C. and Society One EUGENE, OR • NOVEMBER 3 W.O.W. HALL • ALL AGES • 8PM SUBJECT TO SERVICE CHARGE AND/OR USER FEE SEATTLE, WA • NOVEMBER 4 STUDIO SEVEN • ALL AGES • 8PM SUBJECT TO SERVICE CHARGE AND/OR USER FEE PORTLAND, OR • NOVEMBER 5 ROSELAND • ALL AGES • 8PM SUBJECT TO SERVICE CHARGE AND/OR USER FEE ★11/6 LIFESAVAS/JOSH MARTINEZ★ ★11/7 GYPY FLAMENCO★ ★11/8 NORTH MISSISSIPPI ALLSTARS★ ★11/9 THE VELLS / THE FRUITBATS★ ★11/10 PEDRO THE LION/IRVING★ ★11/11 THE VISIONARIES★ OCTOBER 23, 2003 25
