Christine Tassan et les Imposteures, Deanna Knight & The Hot Club of Mars

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Pioneers in a men's musical world and precursors of the manouche wave swelling all over Québec, Christine Tassan et Les Imposteures offer an exquisite tour of a unique universe. Rarely do we see an entirely feminine jazz group and it is especially unique in Gypsy jazz. These musicians have great energy, and their pleasure in performing is contagious. Last year they wowed our audience with their original songs, glorious vocal harmonies, Django / manouche songs delivered with panache and joie de vivre, and of course, instrumentals giving way to fabulously wild improvs with the violin and the guitar. The quartet is in the studio this month to record their 3rd CD, and they will have plenty of new music to present on their return engagement at April In Paris!

Vancouver's Hot Club of Mars has been swinging for a few spins around the sun - a dozen earth years or so - though things really started heating up when performance songwriter, Deanna "D" Knight landed on the red planet in 2002. The lovely and talented chanteuse "D" adds a magic sparkle that really brings these wonderful old tunes to life with style, power and grace. Acoustic bassist Charlie Knowles "kicks the cat" with finesse while guitarist Steve "Bugzy" Szabo keeps the rhythms chugging. Martian Ambassador Michael Dunn and new arrival Don Kellett spin their sweet Djangoesque lines on lead slide and guitars, and resident windgod Mark Dowding, keeps those Martian desert winds blowing hot. The newest Martian import, violinist Tom Neville, channels the spirit of the late great Stephane Grappelli rounding out the sound to a full acoustic orchestra of roots jazz. They have been hard at work on their second CD, and have a wealth of new songs and tunes to share.