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Sorry folks – The Libra Room is doing renovations! The good news…is there are rumours of better sound…bad news is our regular Swingin’ Last Thursday’s was pushed.
Please join us next week Tuesday, March 3rd for an EARLIER time slot. 6-8::30 pm Come on out and enjoy myself and The Hot Club of Mars at one of the cities most dedicated music venues…..on Vancouver’s Commercial Drive.
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Deanna Knight and the Hot Club of Mars
perform at the Brackendale Art Gallery on Saturday, Jan. 17
A&E ~ MUSIC January 15, 2015 / By Cathryn Atkinson
The word “jazz” is scary to some.
Deanna Knight, the chanteuse from Vancouver gypsy jazz ensemble Deanna Knight and the Hot Club of Mars, tries to anticipate this. It still baffles her, though. Gypsy jazz, in particular, gets right to the heart of dancing and good times, Knight says.
“The word ‘jazz’ can just turn some people off. It’s crazy but it’s true,” Knight says. “I’ve been trying to market us more as a world rhythm gypsy swing band, because the word ‘swing’ is fun.” She adds: “It’s a really happy style of music, it’s really upbeat.” Gypsy jazz is the epitome of “a great evening out.”
The band performs at the Brackendale Art Gallery in Squamish on Saturday, Jan. 17 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20. “It’s our annual appearance and there is a little bit of room to dance there,” Knight says. The Hot Club of Mars are return visitors to the Brackendale Art Gallery. They usually play there the same time of year, during the annual eagle count.
The optimism of the music means it is accessible, both for younger people who might not know the repertoire and seniors, who do. Knight says this keeps them busy with gigs. “It runs a very wide demographic, which gives it that great appeal,” she says. “We can cross over from jazz festivals to folk festivals.
“The one thing I love about The Hot Club is that we can play so many diverse events. We play swing dances for the young swing clubs, swing dances for the seniors. We play lots of gardens and summer concert series, which I love because we perform for all ages. I love seeing children running around and dancing.”
She has been with the band for 13 years “I’ve been their longest running chanteuse. There were many before me.” Knight had just moved from southern Ontario, where she had been performing with a 17-piece big band and arrived in B.C. knowing no one in the music industry. “I packed up and ended up here on a wing and a prayer. I was pretty nervous to meet the whole musical community and network and put the band together. That’s a daunting task because you have to make sure everyone gets along and they’re professional and everyone is on the same page with their repertoire,” says Knight.
But they did, they flourished. The rest of the Hot Club of Mars includes lead and slide guitarists Michael Dunn and Don Kellett, flute and saxophone player Mark Dowding, rhythm guitarist Steve Szabo and violinist Tom Neville. The band has been around for decades, since the late 1970s, Dunn, now 72, is credited with bringing gypsy jazz to the region.
“I’ve been lately referring to him as the granddaddy of gypsy jazz — and it’s not his favourite term — but it suits him very well,” Knight says. “He has mentored everyone in the region because he is also a world-renowned luthier (maker of stringed instruments) for that particular style of guitar. Everybody knows him because of that as well.”
This meant that Knight slipped into an already-established band with a fan base and a professional team of players who get along. “And their wives all like me!” Knight laughs.
The Hot Club of Mars has two CDs and along with the traditional sounds coming from gypsy jazz talents of the 1920s, ’30s, and ’40s such as Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli. But they have their own compositions and also draw on a wide range of musical styles that are adapted to their jangly sound.
“The band does play a few of my compositions as well, though I don’t write particularly in that style, I have a few songs that have worked nicely with the band. That has been a bonus for me, to have my writing showcased with the band,” says Knight. They also have adapted Hawaiian music, tangos and bossa novas.
“I’m trying to bring in a lot more contemporary pieces as well, including Canadian singer-songwriters, and trying to showcase their music in a gypsy jazz style. We do a Roy Forbes tune, and another by Danny Michel,” says Knight.
She adds that while they play the major jazz festivals, as might be expected, they want to branch out more into folk festivals and similar events.
“We are busy and play a fair bit and I’m really happy with the amount of performance we play and the stages we land on. I think folk can be more of our community, to tell you the truth. Michael is an amazing workshop facilitator. He’s full of knowledge and stories,” she says. “That’s folk festivals for you; you’re on stage with other players trying to play Bob Seger tunes. My guys can do anything and they’re fearless. Their improvisational skills are high, plus they love to workshop and teach as well.”
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7:30PM – Midnight @ Sapperton Pensioners Hall (318 Keary Street, New Westminster BC)
Drop-in lesson @ 7:45 – 8:30PM / $15 ($12 for students & seniors with valid ID)
Call (604) 773-3637 for info.
Facebook Event listing HERE
Enjoy a large, hard-wood dance floor. Come one come all.
FYI – vintage theme, dress to impress!
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Thursday, February 19th at 434 Columbia Street in Chinatown. TICKETS HERE
I’m so please to announce my support of this wonderful organization, helping a small community just outside Kingston Jamaica. My mother was born in Jamaica and her roots go back 3 generations. I have been looking for a way to give back and keep a connection with my heritage and I have found it!! Fundamentals for Change (FFC) is doing great work for the children and community of Riverton and myself & the Hot Club of Mars will share our music at their next event. Please come out in support!
Fundamentals for Change (FFC) is hosting a photo exhibition to raise funds for a school in Riverton Meadows, Kingston, Jamaica. Inspired by Vancouver’s Pivot Society, FFC handed out 15 disposable cameras to youth in Riverton last November. We wanted them to feel empowered to artistically showcase their community to the world in print. The best photographs will be sold at a exhibition event.
Tickets are $20, which include canapés, live music, door prizes and drinks for sale. ALSO - with your ticket you receive $10 off art sales!
100% of proceeds go towards FFC projects in the Riverton community.
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I am so thrilled to be invited to this Annual International Women’s Day Concert with some of Vancouver’s finest female vocalist and musicians. What a treat this will be to share a few of my own songs and be backed by such stellar talent. This is all in benefit for ATIRA to help support their work in ending violence again women and children. This is a very popular event so get your tickets in advance to avoid disappointment.
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We really enjoy our annual show at the Brackendale Art Gallery as part of their Winter Eagle Festival and Count. It is such a unique venue and sweet spot to enjoy a concert. Come on up for a hike around during the day and stay for a light dinner and our concert. There is even a little room for dancing at the back of the hall. It is not a huge hall so get your tickets in advance if you can.
Call 604 898 3333 for tickets
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The Hot Club of Mars continued to build momentum in 2014 with wonderful new stages including the Terri Fox Theatre, The Pheonix Theatre and Hycroft Manor as well as return appearances at Vancouver AND Pender Harbour Jazz Festivals, Harmony Arts Festival and the gorgeous Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Gardens. We are always so happy to inspire dancing, both with the younger swing and electro-swing clubs …as well as the seniors. We’ve added some super fun new songs with this in mind. Our repetoire is diverse, up-beat and such a pleasure to share with you all. Thanx for coming out!
2014 saw changes in 2 live music venues that affect us directly. The Kino Cafe has hosted the cities Flamenco community for eons as well as The Hot Club of Mars (on the 3rd Monday) for over a decade. I left this monthly show in June as the working conditions for our band were degraded so low…I just couldn’t stick around. I returned in November after meeting Steve Allen….the passionate new owner who has a wonderful vision to improve this space and keep this once successful live music venue ALIVE!!! Gosh does our city need more of this. I see good things coming come down the pike for The Kino Cafe with fresh energy and an owner who cares about the music and the musicians. Steve is a comedian, so expect plenty of comedy, more live music and the much loved Flamenco!
Jazz hot spot on The Drive – The Libra Room - also found “much needed” new owners, moved the stage out of the cramped window and held on to 7 days a week live music. Not only one show… but two! The Hot Club of Mars is really enjoying the last Thursday of each month. We hit the early time slot (7-9pm) which means we can stick around for more great music….usually the wonderful Tim Sars Trio. The food is good and you can count on seeing some great talent.
I had a few personal highlights as well in 2014. A couple new songs co-written with Vancouver composer and musical director Bill Sample and several new songs demoed in prep for something…not sure what yet…but happy to feel some creative-writing juices bubbling up. Thrilled to be asked to sit in with a Jerry Garcia band (JG/BC) this Fall. It looks like it will happen again, so if that is your thang….keep an eye out and come boogie. By far Easter Sunday was my biggest day, with 3 concerts. It was such an honour to perform at St. Andrews-Welsey for both the Easter morning service (complete with gospel choir) and Vespers with a debut quartet. This was all followed by an evening guest appearance with Swing Aggregation….big band style. It has been confirmed that I will return as a solo artists to St. Andrews for Easter 2015!!
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TONIGHT in PORT MOODY – I will be a special guest with the Stringz Aloud Trio @ The GalleryBistro. This trio features Hotties Don Kellett and Joe Bourchier along with Susan Vigneux. Come on out and enjoy music inspired by the fabulous Django Reinhardt in a lovely “listening” cafe with a friendly vibe and yummy food.
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My early years were all choral singing and show tunes. That was until I went off and joined the circus!
Well not really but it sure felt like it. In the early 90′s I was one of the founding members of a psychedelic rock band called the FatCats. Along with some amazing young talent, we stirred up the Grateful Dead scene in Southern Ontario for years. The band keeps on truckin’ to this day and I still have a love for Jerry Garcia and his music.
I’ve found myself on stage with numerous Dead inspired bands after moving to BC in 2002. TONIGHT I will hit the Back Stage Lounge on Granville Island with old and new friends including original FatCat – Tyler Gibson on keys. Looking forward to this! Put on your dancing shoes for a hot lineup including Eric Stephensonn: bass, Jeffrey Kornblum: percussion, MegaDega Mike: drums, Brad Froese: guitar , Mark Crissingerr: guitar
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Playing a little catch up here with such a busy summer and couple month of illness…. I fell behind in documenting our summer fun. HERE is our video from Shaw TV’s go! Vancouver. Thanx to Video Journalist Paul McLellan for his interest and support.
Deanna Knight & the Hot Club of Mars on go! Vancouver
OR click the image to play the Youtube video!! Please like and share!
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