Red Hot Gypsy Jazz coming to Marblehead on November 13

Press Release by Linda Werbner

On Friday, November 13, Occidental Gypsy brings their unique brand of nouveau hot jazz to the me & thee to raise the roof and send the crowd to its stomping feet. This crowd-pleasing quintet with its jaunty vocals, swinging , evocative guitar and virtuoso violin recalling the legendary partnership of Grapelli and Reinhardt, knocked everyone’s socks off at Djangofest Mill Valley ’15 and earned big kudos from jazz-folk-bluegrass master David Bromberg, who raved “great singing, fantastic guitar and violin work, and high energy originals that leave the crowd crazy.” Occidental Gypsy will play two sets with no opening act so buckle your rumble seat belts for a rollicking evening of hot retro gypsy swing. The band encourages dancing so bring your dancing shoes. This 8:00 show takes place at the coffeehouse which is located at the Unitarian-Universalist Church of Marblehead, 28 Mugfor Street in Marblehead, MA.

Since their 2011 debut album Over Here, which made this fab five the critic’s darling, the band has been touring steadily to sold out venues and knocking them dead at music festivals here and overseas. Occidental Gypsy is more than just another hot swing band playing ‘gypsified’ covers. This group is a fusion of world, folk, jazz and dance music with reverent roots in the swing era of the 1930s when Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grapelli were burning down the house in the legendary Hot Club of France. Occidental Gypsy was honored to be named as “capable Django “heirs”’ recently.

This group has shared the stages with such musical royalty as Ricki Lee Jones, Jorma Kaukenen, Stanley Jordan, and Joe Sample. While each and every member of this band can swing hard, the group’s ‘secret weapon’ is violinist Eli Bishop, a Nashville prodigy who also studied right here at Berklee College of Music. Bishop’s passionate and lightning-fast playing recently won him first place in the Mississippi Fiddle Championships. The lead guitarist and composer, Brett Feldman, plays a masterful guitar; Jeremy Franz is a protégé of legendary jazz guitarist, Joe Negri; Erick Cifuentes who hails from Guatemala plays percussion and bassist Jeff Feldman rills out the band’s rich sound.

In addition to originals, the band is noted for its reworkings of jazz chestnuts like Duke Ellington’s “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” and the prayerful “Georgia on My Mind” rendered by vocalist-guitarist Jeremy Frantz, whose is known for bringing large crowds to near silence with his warm, heartfelt singing. If that isn’t enough, Occidental Gypsy likes to throw their unconventional covers including Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” and tunes by Stevie Wonder and the Beatles—served up with a gypsy jazz twist.

Tickets for the performance by Occidental Gypsy on November 13 are $15 in advance and $18 at the door. Student tickets are $10. Tickets are available online at www.meandthee.org and can be purchased in person at the Spirit of ’76 Bookstore or the Arnould Gallery in Marblehead. The Landing Restaurant at 81 Front Street, Marblehead offers a 10% discount on dinner if you show your ticket or receipt. Enjoy a meal before the show! As at all me & thee coffeehouse events, refreshments are available, including homemade pastries, coffee, and teas. The me & thee has a handicapped-accessible entrance and an accessible bathroom, is a smoke-free environment, and is easily reached by MBTA bus.

The me & thee is one of the oldest continually running acoustic coffeehouses in New England, and probably the country. It has been and will always be a volunteer, non-profit organization sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Marblehead. For information and directions, call 781-631-8987 or check the website atwww.meandthee.org.