Whidbey Island Center for the Arts, Langley —
The sheer joy of improvisation inherent in the Bistro String Trio’s DNA is what makes the BST unique. Both Michael Gray and Julian Smedley are melodic improvisors par excellence; Michael with his 25 plus years in Pearl Django; Julian through his association with the Hot Club of San Francisco and a 30 year career in composing and performing jazz classics; and James Hinkley, who is equally at home playing the Korngold cello concerto as he is with soloing and arranging jazz standards.
Pino Noir is a red-hot electric gypsy jazz quartet, led by Los Angeles-born guitarist Luca Pino. This fiery quartet brings unique and inspired arrangements of music by Django Reinhardt, with unbridled sound and style. These young musicians expertly brew a cutting combination of bebop and swing, all the while maintaining an authentic identity in the gypsy jazz style of the 30s and 40s.
Information and tickets: www.djangofest.com