Van Django

Swingin' Gypsy Jazz.

Van Django is an exciting and entertaining quartet inspired by the music of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli’s 1930’s swinging gypsy jazz group, Quintet of the Hot Club of France. Four Vancouver musicians make up the group Van Django— Cameron Wilson on violin, Budge Schachte on guitar, Finn Manniche on guitar/cello and Laurence Mollerup on double bass. You can expect a thoroughly entertaining evening at a Van Django concert, like a walk back in time as you experinece the music that engaged an era. Their arrangements and original compositions draw on a galaxy of musical styles while remaining true to the classic sound of the quintet. Van Django weaves their magic as seen through the eyes of these four eclectic musicians who readily embrace blending an array of styles and genres.

Song titles include Smoke On the Caravan, which draws from the Duke Ellington classic Caravan along with Deep Purple’s rock classic Smoke on the Water and I Found A New Baby In the Hall Of the Mountain King. Other selections include Sweet Georgia Brown, I Got Rhythm and many more originals and classics.

Fun, clever jazz at its best!

VAN DJANGO IS:

Cameron Wilson - (violin) Along with Van Django, Cameron is a member of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, CBC Radio Orchestra and the piano trio Joe Trio. He has recorded with Denzel Sinclair, Bryan Adams, Nickelback, Mad Pupping, Spirit of the West and Raffi to name only a few. He has collaborated with CBC author and storyteller Stuart McLean; the CBC Radio Orchestra in the History of Canada; and with George Bowering and the CBC Radio Orchestra on A Canadian Carnival, a Canadian Rendition of Saint-Saens’s classic Carnival of the Animals.

Budge Schachte - (guitar) Budge is one of Vancouver’s most in demand guitarists. He has collaborated with a stellar cast of diverse groups and artists including: novelist/play-write Thompson Highway, Tango Paradiso, Victoria Symphony, Leon Bibb, Brad Turner, Olam and Joe Trio. He can be heard on numerous films including: Head In The Cloud, Eulogy, Sisterhood Of TheTravelling Pants and on recordings by Tango Paradiso, Ache Brazil and Sarah Marshall.

Laurence Mollerup - (double bass) Laurence is simply a great bassist. He has performed with numerous orchestras and choirs, including the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Victoria Symphony, and Vancouver Opera Orchestra. His jazz credits include work with Herb Ellis, Louis Bellson, Alan Matheson and Bud Shank/Phil Woods, Charlie Byrd, NOW Orchstra, Asza and his own quartet. Laurence teaches at Vancouver Community College, where he co-developed the Vancouver Bass Conference ’99, ‘00 and ‘01 and the Comprivisation Course.

Finn Manniche – (guitar / cello) Finn is a versatile and passionate musician with a Music degree fron UBC and a penchant for playing anything and everything, whether on guitar or cello. He plays Swing and New Music, Bach to Bacharach, Surf and other worldly sounds. He can be heard playing live and on CD with: the Armadillo String Quartet, Ensemble Symposium, the Jazzmanian Devils, Soul Crib, the Paperboys, Denzel Sinclair, 54/40, Murray McLauglin, Mae Moore and Cam Wilson’s varying orchestral extravanganzas.

“They have it all – musicianship, musicality, humor and that swingin’ Django sound. Sit back , relax, and be transported to 1930’s Paris”
Scott Wilson, Jazz Yukon

MP3 AUDIO SAMPLES:
Van Django's 2006 CD "Tiptoe Trip"
Tiptoe Trip
Chanson De Cowboy
Lucky Day

FOR BOOKING, CONTACT:
TURNER MUSIC AND EVENTS
Suite 1104 - 207 West Hastings Street,
Vancouver, BC V6B 1H7
Phone (604) 662-4144
Fax (604) 662-4116 or
Email jeff@turnermusic.com