Raised a "Manouche" or French gypsy, Django Reinhardt was badly burned in a caravan fire at age 18 and lost the use of two fingers of his left hand. His determination to play guitar led him to innovate the unique- and widely imitated- sound we know today as "gypsy jazz". Throughout the Nazi invasion of Paris, Django's musicianship spared his life, and his music became known and loved the world over.
Paul Hamilton and Ashlynn Manning of the Hot Club of Montauk, a gypsy jazz band in tribute to Reinhardt's Quintette du Hot Club de France, will discuss the artistic milieu of France before and during WWII, the hustle of growing up in the gypsy community, and the wild ride of Django's short life.
This glimpse into a bygone era will be accompanied by musical excerpts, and followed by a live performance by members of the Hot Club of Montauk. As the sun sets behind the trees and the fireflies alight, you may find yourself immersed in a Parisian twilight.
Threaded into the night will be the sound of our drumming with James Henry and toasts to the marriage of Paul Gansky and Deborah.
Producers: Ashlynn Manning, Paul Hamilton et al. of the Hot Club; James Henry and the spontaneous love of all who want to drum with us.
Ashlynn Manning is a sound healer, massage therapist, children's yoga teacher, and singer/songwriter. For 5 years she was one half of the Brooklyn-based electro-pop duo Suspicious Package, during which time the duo titled their unique genre of entertainment "Bio-Pop." Their goal was to create captivating pop media that drew the audience closer to the truly awesome details of natural living creatures. Ashlynn graduated Oberlin College with a degree in music, and in the decade since she has traveled the world writing, performing, and exploring music, with the earth and its biodiversity as her muse.
James Henry is a local artist and drum maker living in the Northwest Woods, East Hampton. Originally from Babylon NY, James spent sixteen years at sea working as a commercial fisherman. His many tales of adventures on the ocean capture the raw beauty of human nature and the presence of divinity when out on the ocean. After a few bumps in James's life path, he discovered the awesome healing power of West African drumming. His stories of heart-opening experiences and connecting with the vibrant drum community on the East End give listeners chills and inspires them with a sense of hope and faith. James has dedicated his creative energy to building his own African drums and is currently building a brand for his drum business.