Our patrons
Le QuecumBar Patrons album selling fast available on our shop and for complete download at www.linnrecords.com
"Stars Of Gypsy Swing" It took over a year to put together this unique eclectic and exciting mix of guitar masterpieces that includes original and unreleased material from John Jorgenson, Hank Marvin (his first Gypsy Swing guitar recording) and Biel Ballester. All tracks were contributed by the 13 elite global Gypsy Swing guitar patrons of Le QuecumBar, London's world premier Gypsy Swing venue. Le QuecumBar Patrons: Every one a dazzling star! This musical imprint of our patrons' unique personalities highlights their talent, energy, compositions, melodies and Django Reinhardt's music. Some were born to Django's music, others gravitated to it, yet all have left their indelible mark. Individually displaying their singular guitar style, mastery and personal interpretations, all have nurtured and evolved the genre to new heights of global popularity. This CD, possible only because of our patrons' generously donated tracks, is intended to elevate and share Django's music, legacy and Gypsy heritage. The patrons are staunch supporters of Le QuecumBar and good friends, providing the fuel that sustains my aims. Thank you for buying this little piece of magic you hold in your hand - please support this music we share, as nothing compares to seeing it live! |
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Moreno (France) Born in Moselle, Manouche Gypsy Moreno's guitar talent revealed itself when he began to learn from his brothers. Encouraged by Dorado and Tchavolo Schmitt, he pursued his passion and spent his youth travelling and playing between Alsace and Saintes Maries de la Mer. In Toulon, he met legendary guitarist Tchan-Tchou whom he accompanied and learnt from for four years. Moreno became a regular fixture in Paris, playing with Gypsies like Mondine and Ninine in clubs and cafes such as the famous La Chope des Puces. In Paris he met his wife, the Gypsy singer Marina, and his current quartet sees Moreno fusing Gypsy Swing with traditional Gypsy songs in his powerful and energetic style, incorporating vocals from his charismatic wife Marina. |
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Biel Ballester Trio (Spain) Biel Ballester studied classical guitar at the prestigious Luthier School in Barcelona, Spain. He has performed in many cities across Europe and is sought after for festival performances. The trio's lively playing of the Django style is enhanced by bossa nova and rhumba. In February 2006 the trio recorded Le QuecumBar's first live CD, available from our online shop. |
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Angelo Debarre (France) Angelo is the one of the foremost Gypsy guitarists in the world and a legend amongst European gypsies. An authentic proponent of the Manouche (Gypsy) style pioneered by Django Reinhardt and, more recently, performer of Eastern European Gypsy music, Angelo is the most sought-after musician of the Gypsy tradition. |
Tommy Emmanuel (Australia) Whilst performing recently at Shepherds Bush Tommy heard of the planned Le QuecumBar International Gypsy Swing Guitar Festival celebrating Django Reinhardt’s 100th Birthday. It was then whilst in London he agreed to become a Patron in support of Le QuecumBar’s unfailing and unique efforts to promote and support Django’s music and the Gypsies and non Gypsies who play his music around the globe. Although Tommy’s style is quite different, he is a huge Django Reinhardt fan and admirer and like most great guitarist was also influenced by Django the Gypsy and guitar genius. |
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Two-time Grammy nominee Tommy Emmanuel is one of Australia's most respected musicians. The legendary guitarist has a professional career that spans almost five decades and continues to intersect with some of the finest musicians throughout the world. A household name in his native Australia, Tommy has garnered hundreds of thousands of loyal fans worldwide. Tommy's unique style - he calls it simply "finger style" - is akin to playing guitar the way a pianist plays piano, using all ten fingers. Rather than using a whole band for melody, rhythm, bass, and drum parts, Tommy plays all that- and more -on one guitar. Guitar legend Chet Atkins was one of the first to inspire Emmanuel to try this "fingerpicker" style as a child. Decades later, Atkins himself became one of Emmanuel's biggest fans. "
Tommy got his first guitar at age 4 and was taught by his mother. He learned by ear like many of the Gypsies, with no formal instruction, and has never read music. By the age of 6, he was already working as a professional musician in the family band, variously named The Emmanuel Quartet, The Midget Surfaries and The Trailblazers. Tommy played rhythm guitar and his older brother Phil played lead, along with their brother Chris on drums and sister Virginia on slide guitar. The Emmanuel siblings' earned the family's sole income for several years. By age 10, Emmanuel had played his way across Australia. In 1962, Tommy heard Nashville guitarist Chet Atkins' music for the first time and was riveted by the complexity of Atkins' solo sound. but it would be another 15 years before the two would finally meet in person. In 1980 Emmanuel made a trip to the United States and finally met and got to play with his hero, Chet Atkins, in Nashville. Atkins' influences are evident throughout his music and personal philosophy. Emmanuel's technical precision, his virtuosic improvisations and his unusually broad repertoire- which encompasses not only country and bluegrass, but pop, jazz, blues, gospel, even classical, flamenco, and aboriginal styles -also bespeak Chet Atkins' legacy. Tommy's dream of recording with Chet Atkins came true in 1996 when the pair made an album titled The Day the Finger Pickers Took Over the World, for which Emmanuel received his first Grammy award nomination. In Nashville in 1999, Tommy was honored by his mentor, Chet Atkins with the title of "Certified Guitar Player" for his contribution to fingerstyle guitar, a rare distinction shared by only three other people in the world (Jerry Reed, Steve Wariner and John Knowles). It was a crowning moment for Emmanuel. " |
John Etheridge (UK) John's career has covered a huge range of musical territory: during the late 1970s, he was simultaneously a member of both jazz fusion group Soft Machine and Stephane Grapelli's touring group. He has worked with with many of the great players of the jazz world and currently fronts Sweet Chorus, a quartet dedicated to Stephane Grappelli. |
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Ritary Gaguenetti (France) Ritary Gaguenetti began playing guitar at the age of 14, first learning from his father and teaching himself by listening to the Gypsy masters. His Sinti Gypsy ensemble plays around the world and follows the Django tradition in its repertoire. An outstanding and versatile musician, Ritary also plays funk and R&B. |
John Jorgenson (USA) Le QuecumBar would like to congratulate the very versatile guitar virtuoso John on his newly gained 2009 Grammy Award.
The Award was for best country instrumental, a song called "Cluster Pluck"!!
It was for a cut he played on with Brad Paisley, including Albert Lee, James Burton, Brent Mason, Reed Volkheart, Steve Wariner and Vince Gill - world class guitar players. |
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Multi-instrumentalist John has a huge and varied history of musical styles and credibility, including country (Desert Rose Band), pop (Elton John) and of course Gypsy jazz. In 2003, John played guitar in John Duigan's film Head in the Clouds and indeed starred as Django (pictured right) in a couple of scenes. |
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Dave Kelbie (UK) QuecumBar regular Dave came to prominence during his work with Dutch Gypsy guitarist Fapy Lafertin and soon developed an international career promoting Gypsy music and culture, leading to collaborations with many of the worlds leading Gypsy musicians. Dave joins our Tuesday night jam sessions when not busy with his many other projects. Find out more about Szapora, Dave's Eastern European/Gypsy band. |
Hank Marvin (UK) Chart-topping guitarist Hank Marvin attained fame with the Shadows and has enjoyed a solo career alongside his band's success. Having enjoyed a pop career from the 1960s right through to 2004, we are proud to have Hank as our patron in his capacity as Gypsy Swing player and fan. |
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(Hank Marvin Quartet - playing Gypsy Swing) |
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Lollo Meier (Netherlands) Lollo, a Dutch Gypsy, was raised on Gypsy Jazz and started playing at the age of 12. His mission is to continue the music of Django Reinhardt, performing across Europe at various well-known jazz festivals. Lollo composes his own Django-style tunes, which provide a repertoire over and above the usual standards. |
Robin Nolan (Netherlands) Robin has established himself as one of the world's leading Gypsy jazz guitarists and has set himself apart by creating his own unique style. His natural affinity for the guitar began at the age of 6. Robin's music has encompassed blues, rock and jazz, ultimately leading to his main passion: the music of Django Reinhardt. |
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Andreas Oberg (Sweden) Andreas Oberg was born in Stockholm in 1978. He started out as a mainstreamjazz guitarist, influenced by George Benson and at the age of 18 he was already a well known name on the Swedish jazz scene. |
Gary Potter (UK) Entirely self taught, Gary started to play the guitar when he was 11 years old. Formerly a country player, his path towards Jazz started when a friend gave him a recording of Django Reinhardt when he was 15. This had an immediate impact on him and from then on he decided to make it his career. He has won many awards for jazz and is regarded as one of the best Jazz Guitarists in the World and appears at many Jazz and Guitar festivals Worldwide. Garys latest album Live at Le QuecumBar can be bought at our shop and downloaded at www.linnrecords.com we feel its his best ever showing Gary's musicality and strength of playing. |
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(Garys latest album Live at Le QuecumBar) |
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Stephane Wrembel (France) Born and raised in Fontainebleau, France, Stephane truly discovered Gypsy swing at the annual Django Reinhardt festival at Samois-sur-Seine in 1996. A former student of both the American School of Modern Music in Paris and Berklee College, Stephane continues to bring Gypsy swing to a widening audience and plays regularly in New York. |
Aurore Voilque Aurore started playing violin at the early age of 3, before moving to Africa and developing her talent, taking part in various symphonic orchestras. She headed to Paris in 1998, attending jam sessions and playing in bars, expanding her musical vocabulary. She formed The Aurore Quartet in 2004. Aurore’s passion of sharing her love of music shines through her exuberant and captivating performances. The Aurore Quartet |
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Patron Aurore with Ritary during the recording of our latest album |
Kevin Nolan At the age of 13, Kevin started to play his first musical instrument, the blues harmonica. Via a circuitous route taking in college, playing the bass and lectures from Robert Plant, he joined brother Robin Nolan’s trio as rhythm guitarist. He has been touring around the world and recording with the trio ever since then. After moving from Amsterdam to San Francisco in 2007, he was asked to play rhythm guitar with the John Jorgenson in his acclaimed quintet. |
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Nomy Rosenberg (Holland) Dutch Sinti Gypsy, younger brother of the famous Jimmy Rosenberg and son to Mekkie Rosenberg. He has played all the leading stages and festivals with musical giants like; Stevie Wonder, George Benson, Eric Clapton, Willie Nelson, Les Paul and many more… He accompanied Jimmy from the age of 6, developing into a world class rhythm guitarist. At 24 he has grown into a solo guitarist, described by the Europe Jazz Network as the 'new sensation' - proving he has it all: the talent, the big sound and the virtuoso craftsmanship to be a guitar master. His performance transports you to a romantic Gypsy campfire, surrounded by the magical sounds of the passionate Gypsy Jazz. Nomy plays from the heart; sensitive, full of passion, love and music…just like he is! |
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