Jazz Manouche for the Holidays with Hot Club Mania

A Twin Cities-based swing Jazz band will perform 'Hot Club’ holiday favorites in the gypsy jazz style. The Quartet performs a timeless jazz tradition commonly known as jazz manouche, a blend of traditional Roma music and swing jazz. The ‘Hot Club’ jazz tradition brings back happy memories of the swing jazz era.

Glen Helgeson: Guitar

Gary Schulte: Violin

Steve Pikal: Upright Bass

Jay Epstein: Drums

Composing and performing for nearly three decades, Glen Helgeson has established himself jointly in both world music and in the field of music therapy. Glen achieved a Masters degree in Music (1999); a certification in Neurologic Music Therapy (2003), and has practiced music therapy for 22 years.
Gary Schulte is a master improvisor and performance composer to whom Stephane Grappelli gave his most sincere blessing. A veteran of A Prairie Home Companion, he has done everything from classical improvisation with harpsichord master Layton James to the avant garde with David Byrne, and extensive collaborative work with groups such as Ballet of the Dolls, Theatre de la Jeune Lune, and Zorongo Flamenco. University School of Music, Schulte studied with Paganini virtuoso Rugierro Ricci.
Steve Pikal is highly regarded as a first call bass player from the Minnesota Twin Cities area jazz scene. He has had the pleasure backing shows with legendary performers such as Cab Calloway, Bob Hope, and Margaret Whiting. Some of his additional playing credits include the Jim Cullum Jazz band, Butch Miles, Artie Shaw Orchestra, the Barbary Coast Dixieland Show band, Dick Hyman, Delfeayo Marsalis, Jon Weber, Danny Coots, Brian Holland, the Wolverines Big band, Butch Thompson, Hal Smith, John Cocuzzi, Jeff Barnhart, The Midiri Brothers, and the Bill Evans New Orleans Jazz band.
Jazz drummer, Jay Epstein, has an extensive career as a performer, recording and touring artist. He’s been on 7 European tours with pianists Bill Carrothers & Giacomo Aula. Some of the notable artists he has performed with include the rock band Gypsy, Barney Kessel, Roseanna Vitro, Manfredo Fest, Sheila Jordan, Karrin Allyson, Kenny Werner, Howard Levy, Toots Thielemans, and Sarah Vaughan.
“Gypsy Mania, Central Park, Roseville. It was amazing to see this kind of Minnesota musical talent, so dedicated to the fun and energy of 1930s swing jazz, carry on the tradition with such enthusiasm and skill” Al Don - Pick Six Minneapolis Star Tribune

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