NEW MILFORD—The Frank Brocklehurst Manouche Quartet will bring a repertoire ranging from hot-club-style jazz to the Beatles and everything in between to Merryall Center for the Arts, 8 Chapel Hill Rd., Friday, Aug. 16, at 7:30 p.m.
“Everyone always asks me what Jazz Manouche, or ‘Gypsy Jazz’ is,” says Brocklehurst, who has performed with Charlie Neville of The Neville Brothers fame and the Blue Oyster Cult’s Joe Bouchard as well as in jazz clubs around the country. “The genre originated in the era of Duke Ellington and Count Basie and was popularized by jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt in Paris in the 1930s. Basically, it’s a melding of string instruments, mostly guitars and violins, and was often performed by caravans who went from town to town.”
“I like to think of it as something for everybody. A combination of Latin and Folk melodies along with Swing and Bebop, inspiring audiences to experience, feel things that they never have before”, Brocklehurst added.
As leader and bass player, Brocklehurst provides the foundation for the other musicians to weave their musical tapestry. The quartet features Luke Hendon and Ben Wood on guitar, Pavel Matej on violin and special guest Ysanne Marshall joining in on vocals.
Tickets are $25 and may be obtained here.
