The Brett Martens String Band is back.
Currently recording their first album, the group has widened its repertoire since the last full house at the Elks' on Sixth Street last Nov. 10. We are fortunate to be able to bring the band back to our stage for a return performance 鈥� such is the demand.
Brett is one of Vancouver Island's most astounding young guitar pickers; currently touring with the Marc Atkinson Trio, Caravan with Daniel Lapp, and leading his new band the Brett Martens String Band. His zeal for music is addictive, passionate, and fun; his playing has been described as enlivening, creative, engaging, and exciting.
The Brett Martens String Band follows the sound of Django Reinhardt and the Quintette du Hotclub de France; a musical style pioneered in the '30s when a very inventive gypsy living in France discovered American jazz. His name: Django Reinhardt.
Known as 'manouche' or 'gypsy jazz', the sound is all acoustic and rich with delightful rhythm, melody and improvisation. Because its origins are largely in France it is frequently known by the French name, "jazz manouche", or alternatively, "manouche jazz", even in English language sources.
"When first listening to Django, I was pleasantly perplexed; I had never heard anything like it! Guitar players, composers, improvisers and the like have much to thank from this timeless, two-fingered genius."
Django lost the use of all but two fingers in his left hand. The String Band plays Brett's original compositions, alongside an array of tunes from different eras, and styles; all interpreted to fit a small string band.
Brett's compositions pull from his upbringing in classical and jazz, and dip into musette, bluegrass, latin and "just about anything that swings."
Alongside original material, the band plays many standards of the 'swing' era: anything from romantic ballads, to "dance on the table" party swing. Be it for the intellectual or the fire of the gypsy ... the trio's music is moving.
Joining Brett are some fine musicians in their own right: Jim Lambert on rhythm guitar and Tim Croft on upright bass. Jim is on the top of the list for gigs in the Comox valley; a great lead player as well as solid rhythm guitarist.
As Brett commented, "The heart of the groove, in manouche, lies with the drummer ... who's in none but the rhythm guitarist."
Tim has been the backbone for many groups over the years, and it shows, "His sound is big and his ears even bigger; just what you want in a great bass player."
Brett lives with his wife and daughter on Hornby Island.
"Writing, touring, playing and teaching are a big part of my life, and much inspiration comes from living in such a wonderful part of the world. When I think music, I think celebration of life; of joy, sadness, love, and all ... everything summed up into 12 notes with a good tempo."
Be at the Elks hall by 7 p.m. if you want to find seating for a group of friends to sit together; after that you will be lucky to find all but the few remaining seats, before it becomes standing room only at the back of the lounge.
Two hours of great jazz! Admission is by donation to the hat at intermission time.
For more information about the Georgia Straight Jazz Society, visit www.georgiastraight jazz.com or join on Facebook.
鈥� Georgia Straight Jazz Society
