Christine Tassan et les Imposteures in Concert

GrassRoots Regina is pleased to present Montreal’s gypsy jazz quartette Christine Tassan et les Imposteures in concert. The band is comprised of four exquisitely talented musicians who perform their unique style of gypsy jazz that features works by Django Reinhardt, Félix Leclerc and American swing composers blended with traditional Québécois music. Christine Tassan emigrated from her native Paris to Montreal in 1994; bringing with her her love of the great French standards and jazz manouche. In 2003, she teamed up with traditional and classical violinist extraordinaire Martine Gaumond, jazz guitarist Lise-Anne Ross, bassist Blanche Baillargeon and Christine Tassan et les Imposteures was born. The name “Imposteures” is a not-so-subtle jab at the long-standing tradition of gypsy jazz as a male-only domain. Brushing aside this taboo, these four talented young women were so smitten by this infectious acoustic jazz music that they dove into the genre headfirst and formed Canada’s only female gypsy jazz ensemble. Since its inception the band has undergone several personnel changes. It currently features Christine Tassan on guitar, Zoé Dumais on violin, Francis Tétu on guitar and Patricia Deslauriers on bass. With a decade and a half of bringing their special blend of gypsy jazz and revisited cover songs, Christine Tassan et les Imposteures have made a name for themselves on the music scene. The show of these four exquisitely talented musicians brings together some of the best works by Django Reinhardt, Félix Leclerc and American swing composers. With a singular mix of virtuosity, daring and humour, the string band draws inspiration from one artist’s poetry and the other’s swing to weave a rich new musical universe. They’ve expanded their concept to the wonderful swing music of some contemporary “friends” of Django and Félix. They revisit hit songs created by George Gershwin, Louis Prima or Charlie Chaplin and blend them nicely with Django’s beautiful melodies.