Awesome show!!!

HCPhilly

I just got back from our show at the World Cafe in Philly.,
and I have to say, it was pretty phenomenal.
First off, it's a great venue, great sound, good folks to work with, etc.
Secondly, it was very close to a sell out crowd,
[188 seats were sold out of 300!] Totally awesome.
It felt like a historic moment. I spoke to the manager who was at the show, and he seemed pretty amazed to see the turnout.
For a Sunday night Gypsy Jazz show in January in Philly, that's pretty major. Everybody played their butts off. It was so cool to see so many of our friends there, [Mike Bauer, Kruno, Sherry Somach, Baird Standish,
Bill Nixon, George Perakis, Chris Schwartz, [fromer owner of Ruffhouse] records, and a huge Django fan.
"Emmett Ray" [From NY!],[too many to list].
One of my students, Art Howe is a writer and a great PR guy, he brought in a lot of folks, including some local VIPs. [Her also got some great press coverage, which was a tremendous help.
Art introduced us, and he mentioned Joe Venuti and Eddie Lang, who were of course from South Philly, so it felt like it's come full circle.
Anyhow, I'll write more about the show tomorrow.
Suffice it to say that it was, as always, an honor to share the bill with John and his crew. They're going on to NYC and some other gigs in the NE, [Jason Anick posted the schedule a few days ago here].
I think that they're going to be at the Cutting Room on Wednesday.
Catch them if you can!
Barr

dennis

congrats barry, did you wow t hem with your fapy solo on besame mucho?

Michael Bauer

It was a great show in every way. Barry and the boys did Philly proud, and I was stunned at how vintage Barry's Manouche sounded amplified. The HC of Philly really brings alot of energy to each show, and they got the crowd pretty revved up for the main event. Mark and Barry are great showmen as well as players.

It was Jorgenson's first show with the new band, and they were phenominal. I'd never heard Kevin Nolan live on rhythm before, and came away hugely impressed. The new violinist was a student at Djano in June in 2006. I told him then I thought he was going places, but I was well and truly stunned when I saw him walk out on stage to play with John's new group! His name is Jason, but I can't remember his last name. He really held his own, and I'm sure we are going to hear much from him. And Jorgenson is spectacular. I just wanted to cut off my hands and be done with it after hearing/watching him live. Nice guy too!

If you get a chance, check them out. They are all over the East Coast this week and next, I think.

EmmettRay

Yes, great show indeed. I think the violin player's name was Jason Anick and was only 22 I believe. He may very well be the next Grapelli, haha. You all should definitely catch JJ on this tour!

Soref

It's great to hear about this new ensemble John has together, I hope I can see it soon.

I just want to take a moment to say Jason Anick is awesome. Since some time in '06, my band Sinti Rhythm has had the pleasure of gigging with Jason when he's back home in Massachusetts. Every time he sits in it's sure to be a really fun show, and he always pushes you to step it up and take risks.

We were psyched to hear he got the gig with John, but it doesn't really come as a surprise. He missed a big chunk of Django in June last summer because he was busy gigging with Robin Nolan, and the DIJ before that he was featured on the mainstage jamming with Tim Kliphuis, Phil Bloch, Lollo Meier, Dave Kelbie and Jared Engel.

Jason made a surprise appearance early into the last Atwood's GJ Jam in Cambridge, and it's great to hear how his playing has gotten even better playing in John's band. He stayed the entire night, and it was one of my favorite experiences on stage to date.

This sounds like a really cool ensemble. It'd be great to hear Kevin again too.

regards,
Jack

robertsaunders

I second—or rather third—the foregoing praise for Jason. I've heard him up close and you're right, Jack, he challenges a player to step up a notch or two, like when alternating fours or doubling on solos. Hope I get a chance to hear the Jorgensen group...they could get a gig at Regattabar or Scullers in Cambridge/Boston.

I knew I shouldn't have missed that last Atwoods jam.

-Rob

sockeye

I was at the show too and thought Barr & co did Philly proud & Jorgensen's band was great. I kept wondering who that rhythm guitarist was -- he was really good and very confident. When John said it was Kevin Nolan it all made sense. And Jason Anick was phenomenal. I saw Jorgensen's eyebrows go up a couple times following his solos, and they were trading licks for awhile -- whatever John threw at him, Jason threw back, just a little bit hotter.

Let's hope for more great GJ shows at WCL! (It's about a mile from my house so I have a vested interest.)

John

HCPhilly

John,
Thanks for the good word. The show was such a high, I'm still buzzed!
Next time you come to see us, make sure that you say hi. BTW, I talked to Jason Anick's parents at the Jorgenson gig in NY at the Cutting room on Wed. night. I had met Peter Anick at a DF in redwood City about 4 years ago, a super nice guy. Anyhow, they were so proud of their son. Jason's Mom told me that Jason had met John only 2 days before the gig in Philly!! [Man, I thought I was feeling the pressure, I had it easy in comparison]!
I have been in touch with the folks at the World Cafe about other shows,
[they were really blown away buy the whole thing]!
I'll post details when we get things nailed down. The Hot Club of Philly will be doing 2 Sunday brunches in Feb at the WC. The dates are Feb. 10 & 24, and I believe that we start at 12, [I'll confirm]. the details will be on
the HCPhilly site of course www.hotclubphilly.com
We'll be at Rembrandt's in Philly on Jan 17, and we're doing a dance
event in Pottstown PA with the Swing Kats dance club on Jan 19.
That gig will be filmed for TV. I'll post details of course.
I've seen some of the dancers, and they are unbelievable.
This could be a really cool way to expand the audience for this music.
Cheers,
Barry