Occidental Gypsy plays an exhilarating blend of gypsy swing, jazz and world music that enraptures the listener with a complex acoustic sound, burnished by smooth vocals reminiscent of the first era of swing. Hailing from New England, Occidental Gypsy is a nationally touring acoustic act championed by critics and fans. The Boston Globe named them a “Best Bet for Weekend Entertainment.”
THE LINEUP
Brett Feldman: lead guitar, composer, co-arranger
Eli Bishop: all strings, co-arranger
Jeremy Frantz: lead vocals & rhythm guitar
Jeff Feldman: bass
Jon Chapman: percussion
Occidental Gypsy has played to packed houses at the legendary Nighttown in Cleveland, Green Mill in Chicago, Jazz Kitchen in Indianapolis, World Cafe Live, Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago, Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, The Ark in Ann Arbor, the Blue Wisp in Cincinnati and many others. Well known as capable heirs and nouveau pioneers of the music of Django Reinhardt, they have been featured at the biggest DjangoFests in the US and have shared the stage with greats like Rikki Lee Jones, Jorma Kaukenen, Stanley Jordan, Joe Sample, and David Bromberg.
“These guys have great singing, fantastic guitar and violin work, and high energy originals that leave the crowd crazy. An awesome band.” – David Bromberg
The band features Eli Bishop, a Nashville prodigy who recently won 1st Place in the Mississippi Fiddle Championships. 25 year-old Bishop has played with Wynton Marsalis and regularly performs at Jazz at Lincoln Center. He stuns crowds with his lightning-fast and emotional violin. Lead guitarist and composer Brett Feldman drives the sound with masterful gypsy swing guitar. Jeremy Frantz — a protege of legendary jazz guitarist Joe Negri— brings his sultry, “retro” vocals and expert jazz guitar to the front line, and serves as an exquisite counterpoint to the down-and-dirty driving sound brought by Brett. Percussionist Jon Chapman and bassist Jeff Feldman fill out the band’s rich sound and keep crowds moving with beats and complex rhythms that make their audience keep coming back for more.
Occidental Gypsy’s sound is appealing to a wide spectrum of people, and their shows consistently attract enthusiastic audiences at colleges, arts centers, festivals, concert halls and clubs. Their fans include musicians who enjoy the sophisticated compositions and masterful play, but most folks just come to enjoy the music and dance. The band has found a unique beat and brings to every show a dynamic mix of original vocal and instrumental pieces– and a few memorable standards– in fun, exhilarating performances. Occidental Gypsy’s music cannot be easily classified; a bit of jazz, a catchy strain of blues, a seismic swing experience, and “a whole lotta’ gypsified groove…”
