Come and hear them at ….

Weekly Gypsy Jazz Jam night @ La Bastille restaurant every monday.

Any players out there come on down from 7pm onwards . Make your presence known (wave instrument cases in our general direction), & i’m sure we can rustle up an All of Me in C…

Any spectators out there, it’s a nice place, lots of continental beers, £10 a bottle of house wine, plenty of space – its ok to just come down for a drink – ordering food is not a pre-requisite but highly recommended the chefs are wonderful and the food delightful. We’re aiming for a gentle relaxed atmosphere, there’s enough room to sit near the band & listen properly, or sit away from the band & chat to friends. It’s all good.

Hopefully see some of you there on Monday evening.

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“Playing” Django was formed in the Summer of 2007 by Gary Williams and Phil Oakley. Although at this stage their name was undecided and they went through many connotations including ‘Django’s little finger’ and ‘Pink Django’. Rehearsals often turned into impromptu performance’s in Moseley park and the pair were soon asked to start playing in the local Birmingham music scene. Their early performances were often influenced by a more Spanish feel as the pair tried to get to grips with the rigours of La pompe and the swing genre.

The violin was the next addition to the band and added the warmth of melody and tone that Grappelli was so famed for.The violin style gave direction to the swing and helped form the overall ‘voice’ of Playing Django. Swing with subtle classical undertones.

We are now recruiting for fiddle players please contact us via the website or come down to La Bastille if you are interested.

Their ranks swelled when Silas Wood offered his expertise on the double bass. Silas is a consummate, multi talented musician and plays and produces for many bands around the Midlands. Silas’s sound added to the backbone of the band and gave substance and warmth to the whole.

Abigail Seabrook enhanced the band’s sound further with her amazing vocal talent. It was at this stage the band started to get their true identity and their modern day interpretation of a classic bygone sound was born. Abi’s vocals added that clear distinct richness of tone to allow further exploration of the melody within the improvised solos and song refrains.

Richard Adey is the latest addition to the band. Richards musicality adds the verve and swing to the music that Django & Grapelli were so famed for and enhances the music for that truly authentic French sound.

Their name derives from Django’s habit of not turning up for concerts he was booked for. Often in this situation one of his ‘cousins’ or distant relation’s would sport the iconic pencil moustache and would imitate the maestro. Hence the phrase who’s “playing” django? was oft heard at gigs where Django had better things to be doing (gambling, fishing etc!)

“Playing” Django are available for all types of events/ concerts/ wedding / parties etc . Feel free to drop us a line at

info@playingdjango.com

More here …

We’re playing throughout the day a variety of sets – it all starts about midday.