About Hot Club d'Afrique...

Hot Club d'Afrique is a gypsy swing band in the tradition of the great era of swing jazz in pre-war Europe.

In the latter half of the 1930’s, Le Quintette du Hot Club de France, led by guitarist Django Reinhardt and violinist Stephane Grappelli, created a new sound of jazz in Paris, playing only on stringed instruments. The music of the original "Hot Club" revolutionized guitar and violin improvisation and has remained popular ever since.

Due to Django's gypsy roots, the style, preserved largely by the European gypsy community, has evolved into what is now known as Gypsy Jazz, and has recently seen an explosion of popularity globally.

Tribute "Hot Club" gypsy jazz bands are found in most major cities around the world - from Santiago to Beijing, and the music of Django and Stephane can be considered a new global language, a celebration of pre-electric, acoustic, improvised jazz music.

Hot Club d'Afrique is a band dedicated to the sound and repertoire of this era.

They are based in Johannesburg and are an all acoustic ensemble - vocals, violin, accordion, guitars and bass.

Vocals and Bass: Katharina van der Walt. Lead Guitar: Kevin Drummond. Accordion: Theodora Drummond. Rhythm Guitar and Bass: Babette van der Walt. Violin and Rhythm Guitar: Frances van der Walt.

They play many of the Reinhardt/Grappelli classics, also, popular "Chansons" from the repertoire of Edith Piaf, Charles Trenet and Georges Brassens, as well as many famous tunes of the "Jazz Age" and after.

Join us every Wednesday at Il Giardino for "Gypsy swing à la française!!"