Pearl Django and Gail Pettis
Gail Pettis and members of Pearl Django
Pearl Django was voted favorite area jazz band 2003, by Seattle Weekly readers!
“Pearl Django play(s) gypsy jazz…and they do it with such verve, skill and pleasure that they’re pretty much irresistible to jazz and non-jazz listeners alike.”
In their twentieth year of performing, Pearl Django continues to be one of America’s most respected and busiest Hot Club style groups. Though still strongly influenced by the music of Django Reinhardt, Pearl Django’s repertoire now includes many original compositions. Their music reaches out across the divides of taste to a wide variety of audiences. The band's fervent followers include Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli fans, guitar enthusiasts, lovers of string music — including bluegrass devotees who relish nimble, clean, intricate picking — world music fans drawn to French and Gypsy accents, jazz buffs, and aficionados of the new swing music. Transcending simple categorization, Pearl Django packs in enthusiastic audiences at dance halls and nightclubs, at folk music festivals and jazz festivals alike. The newest release by Pearl Django, Eleven (2012), showcases an even further evolving sound than their earlier recordings. Eleven features a majority of original compositions, including two by Martin Taylor, their special guest on this CD. Released to critical acclaim in June 2012, Eleven made it to #2 on the “US Roots Chart” and had a solid ten week run in the Jazz Week Top 40. JazzTimes says of Eleven in its recent review that it "points to the charm, wit, swing and lyricism that await Pearl Django devotees and newcomers alike." And, that indeed, is the Gypsy swing or 'hot club' sound that’s made Pearl Django a worldwide favorite. www.pearldjango.com
Earshot Magazine’s 2010 Northwest Vocalist of the Year, Gail Pettis, brings to the stage rich, warm vocals and understated phrasing, which have been described by Cadence Magazine as "deliciously soulful.” Her most recent CD, Here In the Moment (2010), was described by the Toronto Star as "...by turns elegant and sultry, recalling the likes of Nancy Wilson and Anita O'Day with great clarity and risky phrasing." Gail’s debut CD, May I Come In? (2007) was nominated for Earshot’s Golden Ear award 2007 Northwest Recording of the Year. Whether traveling, performing, or recording, Gail continues to value the freedom of personal expression she finds in music. “For me, emotion is the currency of jazz. Over the years, I have learned that wearing your heart on your sleeve is not always the best approach to every life situation, but within the context of music, vulnerability always feels right.” http://www.gailpettis.com
As of 2007 Pearl Django is working as both a quartet and a quintet (with accordionist, David Lange) All of the members are contributing original compositions to the band’s expansive repertoire. They have released 11 CDs to date.
Members: Ryan Hoffman & Troy Chapman, Guitar; Michael Gray, Violin; David Lange, Accordion; Rick Leppanen, Bass
Saturday, January 31 @ 7:30 PM, all seats $22
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