Seattle Jazz Scene

JANUARY 2-6, 2008
JAZZ ALLEY
(Jan 5 SOLD OUT)
Call for reservations: 206-441-9729

KBCS 91.3FM and the Pacific Jazz Institute at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley present Pearl Django with special guest Andreas Öberg to ring in the first week of 2008! Band members include Neil Andersson, and Ryan Hoffman (guitars), Rick Leppanen (bass) Michael Gray (violin), David Lange (accordion) and very special guest Andreas Öberg (guitar). Set times on Tuesday – Thursday are at 7:30pm. Set times on Friday at 7:30 and 9:30 and Sunday at 7:30pm. Both sets on Saturday are sold out.

Born in Stockholm, by the age of 18 Andreas Öberg made a name for himself on the vibrant Swedish scene performing with many of Swedens top jazz artists while also attending the Royal Music Academy in Stockholm. He has performed with a wide array of artists including Les Paul, Larry Coreyll, Barbara Hendricks, John Pisano, Frank Vignola, Bucky Pizzarelli, Howard Alden, Dorado Schmitt and Angelo Debarre just to name a few. A versatile guitarist, Andreas Öberg plays mainstream jazz, modern jazz and gypsy swing. Most recently Öberg was the winner of the Audience Prize at the Gibson International Guitar Competition in Montreux 2006.

The music pioneered by Gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt and his partner in swing, violinist Stephane Grappelli, is still utter bliss in the esteemed hands of Pearl Django, now celebrating their fourteenth year of performing and recording. With a continuously fresh and entrancing sound, bands like Pearl Django rejuvenate a love and talent for “Gypsy swing,” a style that was once the height of sophistication. With urbanity, romance, and a sense of urgency, the music of Pearl Django reaches out to the sophisticates of a new millennium as something joyful and timeless. Gypsy jazz and “hot club” music has been enjoying a major resurgence across the United States and Pearl Django continues to be one of the busiest proponents of that style. Pearl Django’s followers include Reinhardt and Grappelli fans, guitarists and guitar enthusiasts who relish nimble and intricate picking, world music fans drawn to French and Gypsy accents, plus jazz buffs and aficionados of the swing scene.

By inviting Andreas Öberg to join them this year, Pearl Django is continuing their January tradition of having the best of Gypsy and mainstream jazz artists to begin the year. Prior guest artists have included Howard Alden, Robin Nolan, Frank Vignola, Patrick Saussois and Ken Peplowski.