Third Coast Swing is heavily influenced by the music of the late Belgium born Romani Gypsy, Django Reinhardt & His band, The Hot Club Of Paris 1930’-1940’s. Django’s music is steeped in tradition of a rich culture from Europe, and blended with Swing era jazz. Third Coast Swing specializes in the styles of Gypsy Swing, Gypsy Bossa, Bolero, French Musette & more. Think Louis Armstrong with a French accent.
Founded by Stephen Plummer whose love for this music led him to reach out to study and play with musician & Gypsy Jazz educator Denis Chang, and later the Manouche Guitarist Favino Lorrier who hails from the legendary Lorrier & Schmitt family. A family of Gypsy musicians in France who are direct disciples of Django’s music. Kaedin Plummer & his partner Ella Jarvis have done a deep dive and reshaped the band in recent days. We now offer an evening of early jazz vocals from Ella Jarvis. Early Jazz vocals that highlights the repertoire of Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Holiday, Sarah Vaughn, Frank Sinatra, and more. Joined with us tonight by bassist Tom Knific & Dave Bennett, Clarinet.
Dave Bennett doesn’t fit the mold. For starters, you don’t find many jazz clarinet players who name Alice Cooper, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Chris Isaak among their influences. You won’t find many musicians who are equally conversant with the music of Benny Goodman (the “King of Swing”) and Roy Orbison (“The Soul of Rock and Roll”). In fact, you may not find even one other clarinet virtuoso who breaks from his Swing Era repertoire to sing rockabilly hits while accompanying himself at the piano or electric guitar. Dave Bennett, who fuses serious jazz improvisation with a host of modern pop influences.
