Pearl Django
Bright, acoustic string swing that bridges Parisian cafe culture with American jazz. Sophisticated, unhurried, and deeply melodic music for sunny afternoons.
Bright, acoustic string swing that bridges Parisian cafe culture with American jazz. Sophisticated, unhurried, and deeply melodic music for sunny afternoons.
Pearl Django offers a sound that is both impeccably polished and warmly inviting. It is the sonic equivalent of a perfectly brewed cup of coffee in a sun-drenched cafe: there is a precision to the craftsmanship, but the ultimate goal is comfort and charm. Their music centers on the 'manouche' style, characterized by the driving 'la pompe' rhythm of acoustic guitars and the soaring, lyrical interplay between violin and lead guitar.
What sets them apart from purist gypsy jazz acts is their willingness to lean into the smoothness of American swing and the textural richness of the accordion. While many in the genre prioritize blistering speed, Pearl Django often favors melody and ensemble cohesion. The result is a sound that feels less like a performance and more like a conversation between old friends who happen to be virtuosos.
Start with 'Avalon' or 'Chasing Shadows' to hear their classic quintet sound at its peak. These albums showcase their ability to take 1930s templates and make them feel entirely contemporary and essential for any moment that requires a touch of effortless class.
Pearl Django is a jazz group established in 1994 in Tacoma, Washington by guitarists Neil Andersson and Dudley Hill and bassist David "Pope" Firman. The group melds the music of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli with American Swing. Initially a trio, they have changed and added members over the years and are now a quintet. Based in Seattle, they have played around the United States, as well as in France and Iceland. The band has performed at the prestigious Festival Django Reinhardt in Samois-sur-Seine and at Juan de Fuca Festival. They have played with Martin Taylor, Bucky Pizzarelli, and Gail Pettis, a two-time recipient of the Earshot Jazz 'Jazz Vocalist Of The Year' award. The British virtuoso Taylor turns up on three tracks of their 2011 album Eleven. On their twelfth album, Time Flies, released in 2015, all tracks are their own compositions except for one classic bossa nova.
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