B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 what I love. ItB次元官网网址檚 jazz and itB次元官网网址檚 improvisational B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 energetic but can be melancholic. ItB次元官网网址檚 the music I love and have always loved.B次元官网网址�

ThatB次元官网网址檚 how Christine Tassan describes the musical style that she and her band, , have performed around the world.

Originally composed completely of women, the group were pioneers in a musical domain usually reserved for men and were early promotors of the B次元官网网址済ypsyB次元官网网址� wave that swept across Quebec more than 20 years ago.

Now theyB次元官网网址檙e bringing their infectious style to the West Coast and will be appearing at Oak Bay's Upstairs Lounge for a single night, Saturday, Jan. 18.

But perhaps a little background is in order.

Gypsy Jazz is a musical genre inspired by Romani jazz guitarist Jean "Django" Reinhardt who, along with French jazz violinist St茅phane Grappelli, drew on the style of music with its roots in France with the Manouche clan of Romanis.

ItB次元官网网址檚 a style that has inspired musicians around the world and has seen Christine Tassan et les Impostures produce seven albums with more than 700 performances at major events and tours across Canada, Europe, the USA and China.

Their album Entre F茅lix et Django received the Opus Award for Jazz Album of the Year in 2017 and was nominated in the Show of the Year category in 2018.

Since 2020, the group has also been presenting a Christmas show titled Django Belles, which has become an annual tradition.

B次元官网网址淚 remember when I was six years old I heard Django Reinhart, and I knew that I wanted to play just like that record I had. ItB次元官网网址檚 been more than 40 years now and the music is still as much fun as it ever was,B次元官网网址� Tassan says. "Django Reinhart was a gypsy himself and a genius. The music is quite challenging for any guitarist and itB次元官网网址檚 not easy to play, but it is so energetic and so upbeat that I just had to learn it and to perform it for others.B次元官网网址�

Tassan is joined by violinist Martine Gaumond, guitarist and vocalist Jeff Moseley, and singer and double bass player David Meunier-Roy.

Although Victorians wonB次元官网网址檛 have a chance to see the Christmas show (maybe next year) Tassan has a way of attracting amazing talent and is regularly joined for that show and others by Justine Verreault-Fortin on trumpet and Karine Gordon on trombone.

And although societal sensitivities to minorities have made the term B次元官网网址済ypsyB次元官网网址� less acceptable, and some prefer the term B次元官网网址淩omani,B次元官网网址� the musical community has continued to embrace the B次元官网网址済ypsy jazzB次元官网网址� label.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 what Django called the music, and he was Romani himself, so I guess itB次元官网网址檚 alright,B次元官网网址� Tassan says. B次元官网网址淚n fact, the name of our group B次元官网网址楥hristine Tassan et les ImposturesB次元官网网址� comes right out and admits that we are not gypsies. WeB次元官网网址檙e imposters who just love and respect the music. We honour the music and the people who created it while mixing styles a little and always give the audience some surprises.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭he show weB次元官网网址檙e bringing to Victoria is part of our On the Road Tour, and itB次元官网网址檚 a celebration of 20 years of touring with the band. ItB次元官网网址檚 going to be wonderful.B次元官网网址�

More information on Christine Tassan et les Impostures, along with concert dates and tickets, can be found at .

For tickets to the Oak Bay concert, visit