Taking inspiration from the music of the legendary French jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt, Halifax’s Gypsophilia combines hot jazz and European gypsy music, adding their own modern edge and fusing elements of tango, klezmer, funk, and classical in their original music. Admired by listening and dancing audiences young and old, the group’s passionate, exciting and sophisticated sound has quickly catapulted them to unprecedented jazz popularity in Nova Scotia. Not simply a Gypsy-jazz cover band, Gypsophilia’s unique voice comes from the fusion of the members’ diverse musical and artistic backgrounds, as well as from their innovative and eclectic original repertoire. Initially formed for an appearance at the 2004 TD Canada Trust Atlantic Jazz Festival, the band was impressed with the immediate and passionate audience response.
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The Souljazz Orchestra describes themselves as a combination of “…blaring majestic horns, dusty vintage keyboards, and fierce earthquaking rhythms to create a potent new afrofunk sound.” Even with such a wild description, I’m inclined to agree. If you’re anything like me, you’ll find yourself asking “What exactly is ‘afrofunk’?” And since I’ve heard it and seem to think I have all the answers, I’ll say “Good question!” Afrofunk is a synthesis of Afrobeat (jazz and funk fused with African vocals and percussion) and electronica, dub, R&B, and rap. So what it sounds like, basically, is orchestral funk… and it’s awesome! I mean, what’s better that orchestral funk?
More on the SoulJazz Orchestra including upcoming concert dates
