“YO-KI SWING” CD RELEASE PARTYACTON — TOMOKO IWAMOTO & 440 GYPSY JAZZ
Features classic gypsy jazz tunes reimagined and fused with music from around the world. They provide us with warmth and beauty through “a jazz everyone likes.”
“Yo-ki Swing” is a collection of original music inspired by the gypsy jazz tradition of Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli, and fusing of music styles from around the world. The title tune “Yo-ki Swing” (“Yo-ki” means joy and mirth in Japanese) is a Klezmer-influenced, toe-tapping gypsy jazz tune, while “Bean Town,” is a swing-style song about our very own Boston. “Painted Lady,” a musette-style waltz, is about the white and black dotted orange butterfly, Vanessa Cardui. “Haboob” features percussion and chimes capturing a violent wind blowing in summer. “Lucky Seven” is a mainstream jazz tune written with just seven chords, and “Endless Stream” is a sentimental bossa nova tune. You might notice a little bit of Beethoven in “Moody's Waltz” and imagine a traveling gypsy caravan in “Gypsy Descent.”
Tomoko Iwamoto, a leader of 440, has been in Boston jazz scene for more than 25 years. Being a "jazzy" violinist with a strong classical background, she expanded her repertoire in jazz, rock, pop to world music, toured with Hypnotic Clambake, while studying Jazz Composition and Arranging at Berklee College of Music. During her recent trip to Europe, she jammed with world renown gypsy jazz musicians Tcha Limberger and the members of Les Violins de Bruxelles, and Chris and Julian Brunard. She appeared as a guest soloist with Mood Swings Orchestra and Women In World Jazz, and collaborated with local modern jazz guitarist, Chris Mcdermott.
Mark Chenevert has been playing clarinet and tenor sax in the Boston area for some 40 years now, working with various projects including Limbo Race ( 1982 WBCN Rumble winners ) , Willie Alexander, and Hypnotic Clambake. Currently , in addition to 440 , he works with the Hot Tamale Brass Band , David Champagne , Bertrand Laurence, and others . Learn more at www.markchenevert.com.
Jack Soref, graduate of Berklee College of Music, became captivated by the music of Django Reinhardt after attending the International Django Reinhardt festival in Samois-sur-Seine France. Jack spent half a year living in Paris France, where he jammed with the legendary guitarist Boulou Ferré and violinist Florin Niculescu. Jack can be seen regularly in the greater Boston area playing Django's music, with a myriad of local musicians. Out in the wider world, he has performed as an accompanist for Jazz Manouche luminaries including Joscho Stephan, Tim Kliphius, Gonzalo Bergara, Jason Anick, Olli Soikkeli, Adrien Moignard, Ben Powell, Aurèlien Bouly, and Titi Bamberger.
Sven Larson came to Boston in 1995 and began studying with bass virtuoso Steve Neil. He continued to learn, perform, and record in many genres, while becoming an in-demand bassist on the local jazz and blues scene. He has studied different styles of music including Hindustani Classical music and West African Drumming. Sven has played on many stages across the US, Canada, and Europe including Symphony Hall, Tanglewood Jazz Festival, and King Biscuit Festival. He has performed with Toni Lynn Washington, Charles Neville, Michelle Willson, Roses Pawn Shop, Albert Cummings, Nicole Nelson, among others.
Doors open at 7pm • Music starts at 7:30pm
$12/online • $15/door • Purchase tickets here.
Tickets available online until 4pm on the day of the show.