George Cole Quintet brings Gypsy Jazz Swing Dance Music

Description

GEORGE COLE QUINTET brings its wildly swinging gypsy jazz for a night of dancing at Ashkenaz on Wednesday, March 31. Cole and crew are the latest attraction in the recently launched "Sweet & Low Down Wednesdays" Series that takes place all odd Wednesdays (1st, 3rd, 5th). Some of the West Coast's favorite blues bands are featured, as well as those that stretch into such related dance music as West Coast Swing, New Orleans R&B, East Coast Swing/Lindy Hop, Gypsy Swing and jump 'n' jive jazz. As with many Ashkenaz offerings, each show will be preceded by a dance lesson that will help all comers dance the night away in style on the spacious Ashkenaz dance floor - voted "Best Dance Club" in the East Bay Express Readers' Poll once again in 2009.



Berkeley guitarist and singer George Cole leads his quintet in a swinging night of Django-style gypsy jazz, classics of the Great American Songbook from the '30s to today, and Cole's own compositions. The band is a mini-orchestra adding color to Cole's superbly crafted and melodically sophisticated original songs that fit right in with those of George Gershwin, Johnny Mercer and Cole Porter. He has performed everywhere from Carnegie Hall to San Francisco's Rrazz Room, accompanying singer Keely Smith. A founder of local '80s fave band Beatnik Beatch, Cole recorded and performed with Joe Walsh, Chris Isaak, Warren Zevon, Robert Cray and many others, as well as being guitar instructor to Green day's Billie Joe Armstrong and Mike Dirnt. He recently issued his second CD, "Samois Faire," and leads a band steeped in swinging jazz and Americana, as well as some exquisitely romantic slow waltzes. The Quintet is guitarist-singer George Cole, singer Molly Mahony, violinist Julian Smedley, rhythm guitarist Jimmy Grant and upright bassist Kenan O'Brien.


http://www.georgecole.net


Doors open at 7:30 p.m., followed by a swing dance lesson at 8:00. Live music begins at 9:00 p.m. at Ashkenaz, Berkeley's non-profit world music center, 1317 San Pablo Ave. Tickets are $10, available in advance through http://www.ticketweb.com, or at Ashkenaz during shows. All ages are welcome at all shows.