Caravan & Pearl Django

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Daniel Lapp has traveled to many corners of the globe with his fiddle and trumpet playing at festivals, clubs, concert halls and pubs in a great variety of contexts with a wide array of artists - some which are unknown outside of their peers while others boast an international celebrity status. He is one of Canada's finest violinists / fiddlers / musicians. Chris Frye is best known as lead vocalist and guitar player in Canadian folk band, The Bills. He is also the rhythm guitar player in The Marc Atkinson Trio and will be releasing his own solo album later this year. Joey Smith, bass, came to Canada from Tennessee via the Glenn Miller Orchestra, fell in love and has made his home in Victoria ever since. Marc Atkinson, who now calls Hornby Island home, composes and plays lead guitar for The Marc Atkinson Trio and as the mandolin player for The Bills.

"Basically Caravan is more of a tribute to Django than my trio in that we do some of his coolest tunes. We combine it with a punchy, danceable groove that I must say is particularly rockin. It has Daniel Lapp on fiddle, trumpet and vocals, Joey Smith on bass and Chris Frye on rhythm guitar - and yours truly on lead guitar. We don't record with this band because it's not the point of getting together. We just played a very sold out show on Hornby Island and rocked the crowd for 3 hours. The longer we play the more momentum it builds. People will be blown away. You would be the first to ever have us in Vancouver. Truth is you will love it and have to trust me. " (Marc Atkinson)

So, we are taking Marc at his word, folks. Don't forget your dancing shoes!

"Pearl Django play(s) gypsy jazz... and they do it with such verve, skill and pleasure that they're pretty much irresistible to jazz and non-jazz listeners alike." — Seattle Weekly

"If Paris is the city of love, then Pearl Django's music is the flirtatious accompaniment." — 6Moons.com (review of Under Paris Skies)

The focus of Pearl Django was, and is, to incorporate the music of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli with American swing music. They quickly expanded to a quintet, adding a violinist and a third guitarist. An interview on NPR's All Things Considered in 2001 brought the group to national attention. In June 2002, Pearl Django performed at the prestigious Festival Django Reinhardt in Samois sur Seine, just outside of Paris, France. As of 2007 Pearl Django is working as both a quartet and a quintet (with accordionist, David Lange). All of the members are contributing original compositions to the band's expansive repertoire. They have released 9 CDs to date.

Pearl Django comprises Neil Andersson, Guitar; Ryan Hoffman, Guitar; David Lange, Accordion; Michael Gray, Violin; and Rick Leppanen, Bass.