Gypsy jazz & vintage swing.
The Hot Club of Hawthorne is a collective of musicians who play gypsy jazz: old-time swing and world music played on acoustic stringed instruments, with exotic Old World flair, a fiery delivery, and feelgood charm. The Hot Club was founded in 2011 by guitarist Jeffree White, who has wowed Oregon audiences for 20 years with his extravagant guitar stylings, whimsical delivery, versatility, and flamboyant presence.
About the music:
~ gypsy jazz aka gypsy swing, hot jazz, or jazz manouche
~ ranges from upbeat, fun, & lively – and danceable! -- to mellow, pleasant, & sophisticated... depending on what the room calls for
~ acoustic and mostly string-based – no drums or horns
~ old-timey swing and jazz music from the 20s and 30s, similar to ragtime & Dixieland
~ exotic Eastern European flavors from gypsy cultures
~ strong backbeat, like bluegrass, which serves to drive the music without drums
~ more down-to-earth than modern, abstract jazz
~ played with Old World flair and charm, and fiery passion!
Common instruments in the genre are gypsy guitars, upright bass, violin, & clarinet, sometimes with accordion, mandolin, melodica, or others. No drums or horns!
About the band:
We usually play as a 4-piece, but we can work from a duo on up, depending on what the projected budget is.
The repertoire consists of gypsy jazz standards including Django originals, swing tunes from mostly the 20s and 30s, some Latin numbers, and a few comedic film soundtrack songs! The group is a collective of many musicians, including some of Portland's best.
The Hot Club has performed at several venues around town, including a long-running series at Jam on Hawthorne, Biddy McGraw's, Portland Saturday Market, the Jade Lounge, Beaterville Cafe, the Globe, and Thirst Bistro, as well as private events. We were featured on live TV on KGW, and the video was shared widely and very well received by many.
About the name:
"Hot Club" jazz is a genre of early jazz, with exotic gypsy flavors, played primarily on acoustic stringed instruments. French gypsy Django Reinhardt was the most famous artist in the genre, as well as one of the innovators; our ensemble is largely modeled after his. His group, the Hot Club of France Quintet, was named after the "Hot Clubs" which were European jazz appreciation societies in the 1930s. There have been countless "Hot Club" bands since then worldwide.
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