Celebrated East Coast Gypsy band brings string-busting swing to Akron

Review by Don Heckman of the L.A. Times, June 2015:  “… the hard swinging similarities between the Occidental Gypsy togetherness and the classic Hot Club interaction between guitarist Reinhardt and violinist Stephane Grappelli… results were irresistible, a virtual definition of an era when jazz was often described as “hot” music.  Occidental Gypsy’s rhythm section, usually driven by the surging rhythm guitar of Brett Feldman, hit one irresistible rhythmic groove after another, “hot” was the best applicable adjective.”  -read full review

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"Occidental Gypsy is a crowd pleaser.  Jaunty vocals, lots of swing, and evocative violin and guitar interplay make this an act to catch and enjoy.   They were a big hit at Djangofest Mill Valley '15. "
- Nicholas Lehr, Executive Promoter of Djangofest

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East Coast band Occidental Gypsy is rolling out new sounds and hot world-gypsy jazz for a July 23rd performance at BluJazz.  This nationally touring outfit redefines gypsy swing, as they vibrantly deliver Django Reinhardt classics and treat the listener to innovative and wildly lively original music too.

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Occidental Gypsy delivers an exhilarating blend of gypsy swing, jazz and world music with a riff-rich acoustic sound and sultry vocals reminiscent of the first era of swing.

Nationally recognized Occidental Gypsy plays a dynamic, multi-genre mix of original vocal and instrumental pieces and with many notable covers like a “gypsyfied” take on Michael Jackson’s Thriller.  The Boston Globe has named them a “Best Bet for Weekend Entertainment,” and musician David Bromberg said of the group, “great singing, fantastic guitar and violin work, with high energy originals that leave the crowd crazy. An awesome band.”

Occidental Gypsy is pioneering the sound of world Gypsy music.  Their mélange of uptempo, high-energy rhythms of gypsy swing, melded with catchy melodic hooks and the complex structures of jazz, delivers a thrilling auditory experience to listeners.

Well known as capable heirs of Django Reinhardt, Occidental Gypsy was featured at the 2015 DjangoFest in Mill Valley, California.  The band has also sold out legendary venues such as Nighttown in Cleveland, offered concerts and workshops at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago, Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, The Ark in Ann Arbor and many other hot spots in 27 states.  The band has shared the stage with such greats as Rikki Lee Jones, Jorma Kaukenen, Stanley Jordan, Joe Sample, Tony Rice, and David Bromberg.  Band members have also participated in side projects that have brought them around the world alongside legends.

Occidental’s 23 year old prodigy violinist Eli Bishop rouses audiences with his award-winning lightning-fast violin, and has brought that energy to his shows with Wynton Marsalis and to his frequent performances at Jazz at Lincoln Center.  Lead guitarist Brett Feldman drives the band's sound with swinging gypsy guitar learned "old school" style in the traditional by-ear way.  Jeremy Frantz— a protegé of legendary jazz guitarist Joe Negri— brings sultry, “retro” vocals and expert jazz guitar to the front of the stage and serves as an exquisite counterpoint to the down-and-dirty driving sound brought by Brett Feldman's lead guitar.  Guatemalan percussionist Erick “Banny” Cifuentes and bassist Jeff Feldman fill out the band’s rich sound and keep feet stomping with beats and complex latin-meets-folk rhythms that make their audiences keep coming back for more.

Band Website:  www.occidentalgypsy.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/occidentalgypsy