Jazz muso and multi-instrumentalist Hank B. Marvin is hitting the road with his band to introduce new audiences to gypsy-jazz music.
Hank, Nunzio Mondia, Gary Taylor and Pete Jeavons are performing at Brisbane's OzManouche Jazz Festival this month, showcasing the stylings of a genre made famous by Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli back in the 1930s.
Hank says the musical style can be applied to almost anything. “It's basically the treatment,” he says. “You've got standards like 'Oh Lady Be Good', and 'It Don't Mean A Thing', they weren't written as gypsy jazz, but so long as the tune will work, that's all it needs.”
For those in the dark, gypsy jazz is an upbeat, bouncy genre of music showcasing rapid guitar playing and usually not much percussion. The group, aptly named Hank Marvin Gypsy Jazz, formed almost accidentally. “Initially it was just a bit of fun,” Hank says.
“We liked this type of music and we used to get together and play a little bit, and started to arrange the music more, and structure it to try and do something different.
“Some people heard us play, they asked us to do some jazz clubs and festivals – which we did – and it just developed from there. We approach it very professionally because that's what we are, but for us it's a challenge, and it's fun.”
Hank is best known as the lead guitarist for the band The Shadows – the backing band for Cliff Richard – but also has a wide array of experience in music; experience that means the authenticity and genuine musical talent in his gypsy jazz band is second-to-none.
Hank's most recent album, 'Django's Castle', reached number one in some of America's jazz charts. But Hank assures it sounds much better live, even though an album is tweaked to perfection. “You can feel the audience going along with you, assuming they are of course,” he laughs. “I think the live situation has more excitement, and more spontaneity.”
One of the band's very first gigs was in Brisbane, eight years ago for the same festival. Their return to OzManouche means a display of noticeable evolution. “We're rather more experienced now, and we've improved our arrangements and interpretations of the music,” Hank says.
It's the only gypsy-jazz festival in Australia, and even after living in the country for 29 years, the English muso and his band are honoured to be playing to a crowd of Australian music lovers. “It means a lot to us to be a part of this festival, [last time] the audiences were incredibly enthusiastic, so we're really looking forward to it.”
Hank Marvin Gypsy Jazz plays OzManouche at Brisbane Jazz Club 28 November.
