Manchester, NH: The Dana Center, regional performing arts center at Saint Anselm College, brings a taste of Parisian Gypsy Jazz to New England presenting Samarabalouf!, for one performance only on Thursday, April 17, 2008 at 8:00PM. This delightfully crazy string trio from Paris with a somewhat unusual name to match, was nurtured on the music of world famous gypsy jazz star Django Reinhardt. The trio plays under the artistic direction of Francois Petit, who specializes in the Selmer-type acoustic guitar from which he composes all the instrumental pieces for the group’s repertoire. Accompanied by Pierre Margerin on rhythmic guitar, Luc Ambry on double bass, and working with Django’s music tones and rhythms, the trio has developed a unique repertoire of works that range from Boogie-Blues to Flamenco Rock, integrating popular music themes such as the Waltz, Tango, Rumba, Rockabilly, and Arabic melodies. The group has been defined as a high celebration of history and life, guaranteed to get an audience smiling and dancing with contagious energy. Together only 7 years with 4 CD’s under their belt as well as a huge European and Canadian following, they made their initial debut at Festival International de Louisiane, LA in 2004, and since that time have crisscrossed North America from Alaska to New Brunswick, New Mexico, the Mid West and New York City, performing in theaters, churches, synagogues, pubs, visual arts centers, universities and outdoor music festivals.And what is so special about their music? “You can find anything you want in the music” says Pierre Margerin. “You can dance, you can clap, you can cry, you can dance!...” Founded some seven or so years ago in France, the group’s name is derived from several places. One part is from a river that flows through the area where the band started, another comes from ballroom dancing, and the “ouf” on the end is an old French word meaning crazy! The resulting name means “playing crazy dancing music on the Samara River.” In the words of Vintage Guitar Magazine, “Call it punk gypsy jazz if you want, but it’s fun stuff” Definitely appropriate for the entire family, bring comfortable shoes, as at least one member of the family will be dancing before you know it!
For more information on Samarabalouf! visit www.samarabalouf.com or The Dana Center website at www.anselm.edu/dana , where you can also buy tickets online. Reserved Seating: $29.50, Senior Citizens $24.50, Youth 18 and under, $19.50, NH Area College and University Students $10.00.
The Dana Center serves the citizens of New Hampshire and the Saint Anselm College community. The Box Office is open Monday-Friday from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM. For tickets and information, call (603) 641-7700.