If the music genre of gypsy jazz doesn’t sound familiar, it’s probably because it not very common in Canada, never mind in small BC cities. If Quebec musician Christine Tassan has anything to do with it, more music fans in the province will be versed in the lively form of music by the end of her band’s current tour.
Playing Tuesday, October 27 at the Max Cameron Theatre, Tassan and her all-woman band, Les Imposteures, will bring a style of music to town that is rooted in the ‘30s and ‘40s when gypsies were prevalent in France.
“People don’t know a lot about this music, but it’s a very swinging style, so people can enjoy it,” said Tassan.
Tassan was exposed to gypsy jazz 15 years ago when she stumbled upon it at a concert in Montreal. Known predominantly as a male-centric genre, Tassan was determined to learn the improvised style and assemble her band.
“I was really impressed by this music, being a guitarist myself, and it was a challenge to learn this music,” said Tassan. “I remember after that first show I saw I didn’t sleep for three days. I really, really wanted to learn this music.”
Now 10 years later and with an accomplished discography to pluck tunes from, Tassan and her Imposteures have been at the forefront of a burgeoning gypsy jazz scene out of Quebec.
“It was a dancing music at its origin, but it’s also improvised music, so we have a lot of fun because things change every show,” said Tassan.
Playing mostly smaller cities like Powell River on their current tour, Tassan said every live music performance, at its root, is the same: communication via music.
“Smaller shows are more intimate, so they can be better,” said Tassan, “but we have fun playing everywhere. It’s still the same show and we like to communicate the fun we are having with our music.”
For more information on the show, readers can go to www.maxcamerontheatre.ca.
