Despite having recorded three albums in five years, toured internationally and taught university-level master classes, the rascally way Quinn Bachand comments on his music may suggest heB次元官网网址檚 somehow less invested in his craft than others with a similar CV. Or it may simply point to the key difference between Bachand and the world-class musicians with whom heB次元官网网址檚 accustomed to sharing the stage: heB次元官网网址檚 17.

Bachand is the centrepiece and lead guitarist for Brishen: a gypsy jazz tribute comprised of Richard Moody on violin, Reuben Wier on guitar and vocals and Joey Smith on upright bass. Brishen B次元官网网址� meaning bringer of the storm B次元官网网址� sweeps from standards by gypsy jazz pioneer Django Reinhardt to more contemporary works, including the theme to B次元官网网址淭axi Driver,B次元官网网址� songs by Bachand and Moody and one re-imagined Radiohead composition.

B次元官网网址淔or people who like the swing, we do ones that are really swingy. For people who like shredding, we do ones that are really fast and for people who like cheesy shit B次元官网网址� the crowd pleasers B次元官网网址� we play that, tooB次元官网网址� Bachand says at a jam with Wier, in preparation for their CD release party. B次元官网网址淓verybody seems to like it a lot.B次元官网网址�

ItB次元官网网址檚 hard to find someone who doesnB次元官网网址檛 like the gypsy jazz style, or swing music in general B次元官网网址� particularly Reinhardt B次元官网网址� added Wier, flanked by guitars and boxes of the freshly minted CDs in BachandB次元官网网址檚 family living room. B次元官网网址淣ot only does it swing and feel good, but the more you listen to it, the more interesting it can be. At the bare surface you can still get something out thatB次元官网网址檚 very enjoyable,B次元官网网址� Wier says. B次元官网网址淵ou can hum the melody to the tune, but after that, someone takes it apart and re-builds it.B次元官网网址�

ItB次元官网网址檚 during that rebuilding process, when songs open wide for interpretation from the accomplished improvisers/composers. Their start goes back to the spring of 2012 when Bachand and Moody, both on tour with Oliver Swain at the time, discovered their shared love for gypsy jazz. When the pair returned to Victoria in the fall, Wier and Smith joined the lineup, creating a platform for Bachand to explore the genre that had first piqued his interest when he was 10 and just then embarking on a Celtic roots career with his sister, Qristina.

B次元官网网址淭he way it swings is different,B次元官网网址� says Bachand, who credits an Eddie Lang and Joe Venuti recording for initially attracting him to the genre. B次元官网网址淚 like it more than different types of jazz. It sits in a nice place.B次元官网网址�

Bachand, Moody and Joby Baker produced the disc that they recorded over a week in July at BakerB次元官网网址檚 studio. With minimal production and the use of a vintage mic for vocals B次元官网网址� an RC44 of the Reinhardt era B次元官网网址� the live sound Baker captured hearkens back to their early inspirations.

B次元官网网址淵ou can hear when people are playing together,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淛oby and I were looking at audio files for our CD and for DjangoB次元官网网址檚 and we put them against gypsy jazz recorded nowadays. B次元官网网址� DjangoB次元官网网址檚 moved a bit and ours breathed, but the other ones B次元官网网址� theyB次元官网网址檙e so over-produced. ItB次元官网网址檚 very intense and itB次元官网网址檚 nice to hear the silence. ItB次元官网网址檚 very important.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not nearly as compressed and thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of interplay between everything,B次元官网网址� Wier adds. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a very enduring type of music, too. Some of the most exciting recordings we have are from the B次元官网网址�30s and theyB次元官网网址檝e always been the most exciting.B次元官网网址�

While the 2013 Vancouver Island Music AwardsB次元官网网址� Young Performer of the Year is navigating new territory with Brishen and has aspirations of touring, he hasnB次元官网网址檛 left behind the banjo and fiddle for which heB次元官网网址檚 perhaps best known alongside his sister. The duo plan to return to the studio next month to record their third album. And then thereB次元官网网址檚 the business of finishing his high school education at Reynolds secondary B次元官网网址� BachandB次元官网网址檚 youth a facet to his life that no longer evokes much of a reaction from musical counterparts and audiences, he says. The groupB次元官网网址檚 wide range in age is now is primarily a source of comedy B次元官网网址� or perhaps just good marketing, when each member of the band appeals to a different demographic, the two agree.

Jokes aside, BachandB次元官网网址檚 hopeful for what possibilities their love letter to the genre yields.B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 putting in lots of time and IB次元官网网址檒l see where it goes,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 falling in love with this stuff.B次元官网网址�

Hear Brishen with guests Maureen Washington and Al Pease at their CD release party Saturday, 7:30pm at Fairfield United Church (1303 Fairfield). Visit brishenmusic.com.