Musician-in-Residence
Hot Club of Saratoga is a collective of some of the best swing musicians in upstate New York playing the style and sounds of 1930's Paris, and modeled most directly by the legendary gypsy jazz guitarist, Django Reinhardt. Their in-demand sound has created an opportunity to invite talented artists from around the country and beyond.
Excerpt from the introduction our Caffe Lena, "Hot Club Series show, December 2019:
"Tonight is another installment of our Hot Club Series which has become really one of our favorites and it’s because of this band, Hot Club of Saratoga, that Saratoga Springs has become known, around the world now, as a destination of jazz in the Django style because they have been bringing in these guest musicians and doing residencies for a month at a time and playing all over and showcasing their skills, their versatile skills, if I can put it that way, with all of the different musicians they bring in they adapt their style, they create new arrangements, and they come up with something new every time. So, we are excited to see what they have this time. We hope you enjoy the night. This is Hot Club of Saratoga with their artist in residence, Dennis Pol."
This program highlights some of the best characteristics of Saratoga Springs, and upstate New York at large: a culturally vibrant region that supports local and national artistry of the highest level and a willingness for local individuals and organizations to collaborate on a shared vision.
Please help us welcome these talented visiting artists and don't miss a chance to come out to hear them.
During each of their stays, they will most likely be on every Hot Club gig.
>>> Like so many parts of our lives, we are looking forward to opportunities to invite musicians again once this pandemic is behind us.
Excerpt from the introduction our Caffe Lena, "Hot Club Series show, December 2019:
"Tonight is another installment of our Hot Club Series which has become really one of our favorites and it’s because of this band, Hot Club of Saratoga, that Saratoga Springs has become known, around the world now, as a destination of jazz in the Django style because they have been bringing in these guest musicians and doing residencies for a month at a time and playing all over and showcasing their skills, their versatile skills, if I can put it that way, with all of the different musicians they bring in they adapt their style, they create new arrangements, and they come up with something new every time. So, we are excited to see what they have this time. We hope you enjoy the night. This is Hot Club of Saratoga with their artist in residence, Dennis Pol."
This program highlights some of the best characteristics of Saratoga Springs, and upstate New York at large: a culturally vibrant region that supports local and national artistry of the highest level and a willingness for local individuals and organizations to collaborate on a shared vision.
Please help us welcome these talented visiting artists and don't miss a chance to come out to hear them.
During each of their stays, they will most likely be on every Hot Club gig.
>>> Like so many parts of our lives, we are looking forward to opportunities to invite musicians again once this pandemic is behind us.
We are grateful to our key partners and contributing partners in our goal to help build a growing community of gypsy jazz players and listeners alike.
Key Partners
Key Partners
- Caffe Lena: The longest running coffee house in the country, Caffe Lena, has partnered with us in the development of The Hot Club Series, which will feature current musicians-in-residence in a concert and open gypsy jazz jam, whenever we can match schedules. (See below for more details.) They have also offered their space for workshops lead by the current artist in residence.
- Saratoga Springs Senior Center: The senior center has committed to producing a minimum of 3 shows featuring musicians-in-residence in 2019. Show schedule and past shows are here.
Contributing Partners: Many thanks to those from the community who contribute to help make this program and these events possible.
Housing
A couple has offered housing for a relatively low rate in their Saratoga Springs house when available. If you would like to support the series with free or low rent options, please contact us: [email protected]. A penny saved is a penny earned. And to make this possible for a visiting musician, every penny counts!
Interested in a Hot Club of Saratoga Musician-in-Residency?
At this time we are are offering residencies for lead guitarists. If you are interested, please contact us at: [email protected].
Housing
A couple has offered housing for a relatively low rate in their Saratoga Springs house when available. If you would like to support the series with free or low rent options, please contact us: [email protected]. A penny saved is a penny earned. And to make this possible for a visiting musician, every penny counts!
Interested in a Hot Club of Saratoga Musician-in-Residency?
At this time we are are offering residencies for lead guitarists. If you are interested, please contact us at: [email protected].
Current Musician-in-Residence
Hunter Burgamy
New Orleans, Louisiana
September 20 - 30, 2023
Hunter Burgamy is a guitarist, vocalist, and jazz banjoist from New Orleans, Louisiana. An alumnus of both the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts and Berklee College of Music, he got his start both in and out of the classroom, heading blues jams and honing his style on jazz and rock gigs from the age of 13. As both a bandleader and sideman, Hunter has shared the stage with artists such as the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Catherine Russell, Old Crow Medicine Show, and Bonnie Raitt. In New Orleans, he's a member of traditional jazz staple The Secret Six Jazz Band, and Carolina folk band Ellis Dyson and the Shambles, in addition to leading his own band The Garden of Joy. While having a particular love for the music of his New Orleans, the styles and musics of the Teens and Twenties are a speciality Hunter's career currently favors.
Previous Musicians-in-Residence
Frank Soucy
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
August 2-October 28, 2022
Frank Soucy is a French Canadian Guitarist and composer from Montréal, Québec. Starting with rock music as a teenager, his Jazz Manouche journey started in 2010 when he found his first D hole style guitar, taught himself and headed west, Hallelujah!
His adventures brought him back home after being tragically hit by a truck, reassessing priorities, he went back to shedding and met the right people. Started a band with French co-composer and violin virtuoso Raphael Tristan-Jouaville called La Verdine, winning the Django Reinhardt Festival’s Scène des Luthiers Competition (Samois-sur-Seine, France) in 2018, organised by famous rhythm guitarist Mathieu Chatelain. This followed the release of their first album of compositions La Belle Époque in 2019 and a second tour in Europe , playing on main stage at Django Reinhardt Festival their compositions that transcend traditional gypsy jazz, inspired by impressionist/classical to modern jazz as much as atonal and rock music. More encounters afterwards brought him to tour with many more bands including an Eastern European tour with Les Poissons Voyageurs, feeding on great serendipity.
Today Frank is still going at it, whether it’s bluegrass or rock, jazz Manouche or folk music, as long as it’s guitar, exercising the philosophy to always be a student. Stay tuned...
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
August 2-October 28, 2022
Frank Soucy is a French Canadian Guitarist and composer from Montréal, Québec. Starting with rock music as a teenager, his Jazz Manouche journey started in 2010 when he found his first D hole style guitar, taught himself and headed west, Hallelujah!
His adventures brought him back home after being tragically hit by a truck, reassessing priorities, he went back to shedding and met the right people. Started a band with French co-composer and violin virtuoso Raphael Tristan-Jouaville called La Verdine, winning the Django Reinhardt Festival’s Scène des Luthiers Competition (Samois-sur-Seine, France) in 2018, organised by famous rhythm guitarist Mathieu Chatelain. This followed the release of their first album of compositions La Belle Époque in 2019 and a second tour in Europe , playing on main stage at Django Reinhardt Festival their compositions that transcend traditional gypsy jazz, inspired by impressionist/classical to modern jazz as much as atonal and rock music. More encounters afterwards brought him to tour with many more bands including an Eastern European tour with Les Poissons Voyageurs, feeding on great serendipity.
Today Frank is still going at it, whether it’s bluegrass or rock, jazz Manouche or folk music, as long as it’s guitar, exercising the philosophy to always be a student. Stay tuned...
Dennis Pol
(Dionysus Polygenis)
Athens, Greece
December 5-22, 2019
Dennis was born in Italy and raised in Greece by a Greek father and an Italian mother. After graduating high school he attended the Conservatory of Nakas. After a year, he studied abroad at the Conservatory in Groningen (NL) where he had the opportunity to study and play with many musicians from the New York scene. A year later Dennis studied at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam where he discovered a new passion for Jazz Manouche. In Amsterdam, he had the opportunity to study with some of the finest guitarists in the world such as Jesse van Ruller, Martijn van Iterson, Maarten van der Grinten where he completed his BFA in performing arts in 2018. Dennis won the Bucharest Jazz International 2017 Competition with the AG Quintet.
Dennis was featured in Caffe Lena's Hot Club Series Show and Jam on December 20, 2019.
(Dionysus Polygenis)
Athens, Greece
December 5-22, 2019
Dennis was born in Italy and raised in Greece by a Greek father and an Italian mother. After graduating high school he attended the Conservatory of Nakas. After a year, he studied abroad at the Conservatory in Groningen (NL) where he had the opportunity to study and play with many musicians from the New York scene. A year later Dennis studied at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam where he discovered a new passion for Jazz Manouche. In Amsterdam, he had the opportunity to study with some of the finest guitarists in the world such as Jesse van Ruller, Martijn van Iterson, Maarten van der Grinten where he completed his BFA in performing arts in 2018. Dennis won the Bucharest Jazz International 2017 Competition with the AG Quintet.
Dennis was featured in Caffe Lena's Hot Club Series Show and Jam on December 20, 2019.
Michael Joseph Harris
Baltimore, MD
September 16-19 , 2019
In 2012, guitarist Michael Joseph Harris began studying and playing the music of legendary Jazz Manouche guitarist Django Reinhardt which led to the creation of Hot Club of Baltimore later that same year. Harris then founded Ultrafaux in 2014 to perform his original Gypsy Jazz compositions. A popular self-produced YouTube concert video from that same year titled Ultrafaux & Friends helped create a worldwide audience gaining over 60,000 views by 2015.
Harris was named one of the top ten musicians by Baltimore Style Magazine and has been featured on the front page of The Baltimore Sun Weekend Section, CBS News, and WDVX Blue Plate Special multiple times. He is founder and artistic director for the popular Charm City Django Jazz Festival which happens annually during the last weekend of February at The Creative Alliance in Baltimore.
Baltimore, MD
September 16-19 , 2019
In 2012, guitarist Michael Joseph Harris began studying and playing the music of legendary Jazz Manouche guitarist Django Reinhardt which led to the creation of Hot Club of Baltimore later that same year. Harris then founded Ultrafaux in 2014 to perform his original Gypsy Jazz compositions. A popular self-produced YouTube concert video from that same year titled Ultrafaux & Friends helped create a worldwide audience gaining over 60,000 views by 2015.
Harris was named one of the top ten musicians by Baltimore Style Magazine and has been featured on the front page of The Baltimore Sun Weekend Section, CBS News, and WDVX Blue Plate Special multiple times. He is founder and artistic director for the popular Charm City Django Jazz Festival which happens annually during the last weekend of February at The Creative Alliance in Baltimore.
-
- Luca Pino
- Los Angeles, CA
- September 5-16, 2019
- Luca Pino is a Los Angeles guitarist with a penchant for playing jazz in the Django Reinhardt fashion. His part in the locally loved gypsy jazz quartet "Hedgehog Swing", led him to discover his love for 1930's and 40's guitar playing, and brought that love and style in LA based swing super-group, "Lizzy and the Triggermen". Soon after, he has done several YouTube videos with the widely successful, viral sensation "Postmodern Jukebox", and has even toured Europe with them this past Spring.
- Luca was featured in Caffe Lena's Hot Club Series Show and Jam on September 12.
Max O'Rourke
Rutland, VT
August 14-18 & 27-30, 2019
Vermont born Max O’Rourke made a name for himself as a teenager in the gypsy jazz circuit by playing rhythm guitar for the likes of John Jorgenson, Gonzalo Bergara, and the Rhythm Future Quartet. At nineteen, he was awarded the Djangofest Saga award for outstanding young musicianship. Now at twenty-three years of age, he’s leading bands of his own that cover a broad scope of genres and instrumentation.
"When high-level improvisational skills are married to good melodies and dynamic arrangements like these, the listener is the big winner!" -John Jorgenson
Max was featured in Caffe Lena's Hot Club Series Show and Jam on August 27
Rutland, VT
August 14-18 & 27-30, 2019
Vermont born Max O’Rourke made a name for himself as a teenager in the gypsy jazz circuit by playing rhythm guitar for the likes of John Jorgenson, Gonzalo Bergara, and the Rhythm Future Quartet. At nineteen, he was awarded the Djangofest Saga award for outstanding young musicianship. Now at twenty-three years of age, he’s leading bands of his own that cover a broad scope of genres and instrumentation.
"When high-level improvisational skills are married to good melodies and dynamic arrangements like these, the listener is the big winner!" -John Jorgenson
Max was featured in Caffe Lena's Hot Club Series Show and Jam on August 27
Denis Chang
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
July 31-August 4, 2019
Fascinated by the music of French Gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt, Taiwanese-Canadian guitarist Denis Chang spent his formative years alongside the Gypsies of France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany, where he learned to play the style of music that is now known as Gypsy Jazz. There, he learned to understand the Romany way of life, and was completely immersed in the culture. He is one of the few gadje (non-Gypsy) to have learned Romanes, the language of the Gypsies.
He has worked with the top performers in Gypsy Jazz, such as The Rosenberg Trio, Joscho Stephan, Gonzalo Bergara, Paulus Schäfer, Tcha Limberger, to name just a few. Other renowned musicians that he has worked with include James Carter, Mark O’Connor, Stephane Wrembel, Frank Vignola, etc.
As a teacher, he is highly sought-after; he is regularly invited to give workshops across the globe. He has performed across Canada, the USA, Europe, Japan, the UK, and Taiwan. Having produced a number of instructional DVDs in the Gypsy Jazz genre that were a critical international success, Denis created his online music school “DC Music School” that features some of the world’s best musicians in different styles and instruments; it is a site that now boasts over 5000 unique registered users from over 50 countries.
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
July 31-August 4, 2019
Fascinated by the music of French Gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt, Taiwanese-Canadian guitarist Denis Chang spent his formative years alongside the Gypsies of France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany, where he learned to play the style of music that is now known as Gypsy Jazz. There, he learned to understand the Romany way of life, and was completely immersed in the culture. He is one of the few gadje (non-Gypsy) to have learned Romanes, the language of the Gypsies.
He has worked with the top performers in Gypsy Jazz, such as The Rosenberg Trio, Joscho Stephan, Gonzalo Bergara, Paulus Schäfer, Tcha Limberger, to name just a few. Other renowned musicians that he has worked with include James Carter, Mark O’Connor, Stephane Wrembel, Frank Vignola, etc.
As a teacher, he is highly sought-after; he is regularly invited to give workshops across the globe. He has performed across Canada, the USA, Europe, Japan, the UK, and Taiwan. Having produced a number of instructional DVDs in the Gypsy Jazz genre that were a critical international success, Denis created his online music school “DC Music School” that features some of the world’s best musicians in different styles and instruments; it is a site that now boasts over 5000 unique registered users from over 50 countries.
Tim Clement
New York, NY
June 15 - July 11, 2019
Tim Clement is a New York City based guitar player who performs regularly in and around the city playing mostly jazz, blues, and music inspired by Django Reinhardt. He has toured nationally and internationally with a wide variety of bands in a variety of genres.
Tim was featured in Caffe Lena's Hot Club Series Show and Jam on July 11, 2019.
Brad Brose
Paris, France
May 6 - June 9, 2019
Originally from Hollywood, California, Brad Brose has performed with some of the best swing musicians that the U.S. has to offer. After playing in swing dance clubs and for festivals across the USA, Brad decided to move to France to study Europe's greatest contribution to jazz: Jazz Manouche. Now based in Paris, he plays his gypsy jazz guitar along with the most respected jazz manouche artists such as Tchavolo Schmitt, Stochelo Rosenberg, and others in the all of the legendary gypsy jazz clubs and festivals across Europe.
Brad was featured in concert in the HCS quintet at May 7, 2019 at Caffe Lena.
An open jam immediately after concert.
Paris, France
May 6 - June 9, 2019
Originally from Hollywood, California, Brad Brose has performed with some of the best swing musicians that the U.S. has to offer. After playing in swing dance clubs and for festivals across the USA, Brad decided to move to France to study Europe's greatest contribution to jazz: Jazz Manouche. Now based in Paris, he plays his gypsy jazz guitar along with the most respected jazz manouche artists such as Tchavolo Schmitt, Stochelo Rosenberg, and others in the all of the legendary gypsy jazz clubs and festivals across Europe.
Brad was featured in concert in the HCS quintet at May 7, 2019 at Caffe Lena.
An open jam immediately after concert.
Ken Allday
Louisville, KY
December 29-January 28, 2018-19
Ken is travelling from Louisville, Kentucky, to spend First Night and January with us, including our show at Caffe Lena on January 27. In Louisville he plays with Swing 39 as well as other projects. We've know him for several years from Django in June and jamming together when Swing 39 swung by Saratoga on their way to perform at the Django By The Sea Festival. For the past couple of years he has taught at Django in June where he was among the most highly rated teachers this past year and has performed alongside Tcha Limberger, Denis Chang, Adrien Moignard and Ben Powell, among others.
Ken was featured in Caffe Lena's Hot Club Series Show and Jam on January 27, 2019.
Sara at The Hot Club Series show at Caffe Lena
Sara L'Abriola
New York, NY
December 6-23, 2018
Born in 1998 in Garrison, New York, Sara L'Abriola started playing guitar at age eight. While originally immersed in classical guitar training and technique, at thirteen she discovered a love for Django Reinhardt's music and has pursued the style ever since. Under the instruction of renown guitarist, Stephane Wrembel, she began transcribing Django Reinhardt's solos and developing the technique.
After finishing high school, Sara moved to New York City and began playing Reinhardt's style of music full-time. At eighteen years old, she made her Carnegie Hall debut, sharing the stage with Stephane Wrembel, Stochelo Rosenberg, and Al Di Meola as part of the Django A Gogo festival. Sara also won 2018's SAGA Young Musicians Award, accepting it and performing at Djangofest Northwest on Whidbey Island. Sara was recently featured at the 2018 Stockholm Django Festival. She has also studied Indian classical music under the late sitar maestro, Roop Verma. Sara currently resides in New York, New York.
Sara was featured in Caffe Lena's Hot Club Series Show and Jam on December 20, 2018.
Ivan Peña
Tulsa, OK
October 17-November 9, 2018
Ivan is a guitarist from Tulsa, Oklahoma. He has spent years traveling throughout France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, and Belgium gigging and studying music from icons like Fapy Lafertin, Angelo Debarre, Christophe Lartilleux, Tcha Limberger, and Serge Krief. He has been a member of and toured with Hot Club of Detroit, as well as performing with Rhythm Future Quartet and others.
Ivan was featured in Caffe Lena's Hot Club Series Show and Jam on November 6, 2018.
Ivan Peña
Tulsa, OK
October 17-November 9, 2018
Ivan is a guitarist from Tulsa, Oklahoma. He has spent years traveling throughout France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, and Belgium gigging and studying music from icons like Fapy Lafertin, Angelo Debarre, Christophe Lartilleux, Tcha Limberger, and Serge Krief. He has been a member of and toured with Hot Club of Detroit, as well as performing with Rhythm Future Quartet and others.
Ivan was featured in Caffe Lena's Hot Club Series Show and Jam on November 6, 2018.
The Hot Club Series
An offshoot of our music residencies, The Hot Club Series, is a partnership with Caffe Lena to feature these players bringing them together with the region's gypsy jazz community through concerts, workshops, and jams. We are grateful to the enthusiasm Caffe Lena shares with us in this venture and thank the Caffe staff and volunteers for their support.
Listeners and players alike are welcome to any of these events. Many people who attend these concerts stay and thoroughly enjoy the jams. Though we'd certainly love everyone to come for both the show and jam, if you can only make it for the jam, there is no charge for players and listeners who attend the jam only. Please plan on the jam beginning at approximately 8:30.
The Hot Club Series - Upcoming Events
>> Wednesday, October 26, 2022, 7:00
>> Hot Club Series Concert & Jam featuring Montreal guitarist Frank Soucy
>> Concert immediately followed by swing jam
The Hot Club Series at Caffe Lena - Past Events
Listeners and players alike are welcome to any of these events. Many people who attend these concerts stay and thoroughly enjoy the jams. Though we'd certainly love everyone to come for both the show and jam, if you can only make it for the jam, there is no charge for players and listeners who attend the jam only. Please plan on the jam beginning at approximately 8:30.
The Hot Club Series - Upcoming Events
>> Wednesday, October 26, 2022, 7:00
>> Hot Club Series Concert & Jam featuring Montreal guitarist Frank Soucy
>> Concert immediately followed by swing jam
The Hot Club Series at Caffe Lena - Past Events
- Friday, December 20, 2019: The Hot Club Series featuring Greek guitarist Dennis Pol
- Thursday, September 12, 2019: The Hot Club Series featuring Los Angeles guitarist Luca Pino
- Tuesday, August 27, 2019: The Hot Club Series featuring NYC guitarist Max O'Rourke
- Thursday, July 11, 2019: The Hot Club Series featuring NYC guitarist Tim Clement
- Tuesday, May 7, 2019: The Hot Club Series featuring, from Paris, Brad Brose
- Sunday, January 27, 2019: The Hot Club Series featuring Ken Allday - (workshop, concert, and jam)
- Thursday, December 20, 2018 : The Hot Club Series featuring Sara L'abriola
- Tuesday, November 6, 2018: The Hot Club Series featuring Ivan Peña
Why "The Hot Club Series" ?
Our friends will sometimes think of us, Hot Club of Saratoga, specifically when they hear that title since we may be their main exposure to this kind of music locally. There is a tradition in our name along with Hot Club groups all over the world like Hot Club of Detroit, Hot Club of San Francisco, Hot Club of Philadelphia, Hot Club of Paris, Hot Club of Belgium, etc. We all do this in some part to pay homage to Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli since they made Le Jazz Hot "a thing" in 1930's Paris with their Quintet of the Hot Club of France.
This genre of music is referred to as Hot Club Jazz in addition to being called Gypsy Jazz, Gypsy Swing, or Swing Manouche. So, it is a descriptor of this style of music in general as well as part of the name of all the "Hot Club" groups around the world. Referencing that term in the series ties it to this tradition as well as describing what to expect in the series.
Our friends will sometimes think of us, Hot Club of Saratoga, specifically when they hear that title since we may be their main exposure to this kind of music locally. There is a tradition in our name along with Hot Club groups all over the world like Hot Club of Detroit, Hot Club of San Francisco, Hot Club of Philadelphia, Hot Club of Paris, Hot Club of Belgium, etc. We all do this in some part to pay homage to Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli since they made Le Jazz Hot "a thing" in 1930's Paris with their Quintet of the Hot Club of France.
This genre of music is referred to as Hot Club Jazz in addition to being called Gypsy Jazz, Gypsy Swing, or Swing Manouche. So, it is a descriptor of this style of music in general as well as part of the name of all the "Hot Club" groups around the world. Referencing that term in the series ties it to this tradition as well as describing what to expect in the series.
|
About The Hot Club Series Jam
|
Hot Club Series jam after show with Sara L'Abriola
at Caffe Lena ~ 12/20/2018 |
Senior Center Shows
Saratoga Senior Center often hosts a show featuring our Artist-in-Residence playing in a trio of Hot Club members, These day time shows at the Senior Center offer seniors and other community members a chance to hear our guests at a time convenient to them, often near the lunchtime offerings for eligible seniors.
- Upcoming Show: Friday, September 6, 1:00 featuring Luca Pino from Los Angeles
- Past Shows
- September 6, 2019 featuring Luca Pino, Los Angeles, California
- August 16, 2019 featuring Max O'Rourke, Rutland, Vermont
- August 2, 2019 featuring Denis Chang, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- June 4, 2019, sponsor in Lunchtime Concert Series, Hot Club of Saratoga quintet featuring Brad Brose, Paris, France
- February 1, 2019 featuring Ken Allday, Louisville, Kentucky