Halifax-based Gypsophilia is a group of seven young performers whose music straddles the jazz and indie worlds. The band started in 2004 as a Django Reinhardt-inspired project, but soon found itself mixing gypsy jazz with klezmer, funk, classical music, indie rock, and bebop, writing its own tunes and playing to sold out crowds.
Gypsophiliaís 2007 debut record Minor Hope struck a chord with music fans across Canada, selling out of its first pressing in a matter of months and helping to support successful tours of Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes. The album of all original compositions was nominated for two Nova Scotia Music Awards and an ECMA, and has received extensive national airplay on CBC.
The latest record, Sa-Ba-Da-OW! (June 2009), offers up even more varied sounds, self-produced and recorded in Halifax's Echo Chamber studio, engineered under the legendary hand of Charles Austin (Joel Plaskett, Buck 65, Al Tuck, Matt Mays, Super Friendz, Garrett Mason). The bandís typical lineup of three guitars, violin, double bass, trumpet and piano is bolstered on the album with synthesizer, backbeat handclaps, impromptu gang vocals, percussion, and slide whistle. And next to some classic swing grooves, be prepared to find klezmer, funk, reggae, tango and game show music.
On the heels of the album's June 19th release date, Gypsophilia embarked on a coast-to-coast national tour of major Canadian festivals, from Victoria to St. Johnís, including a stop at the Montreal Jazz Festival. Sa-ba-da-OW! has sold quickly since its release, and has also charted well, spending 6 weeks in the number 1 slot atop the national campus radio jazz/blues charts. In November 2009 the album won a Nova Scotia Music Award for Jazz Recording of the Year.
The band is currently at work rehearsing new original material for an upcoming recording project, working on two music video projects, and recently finished composing the score of an independent short film. The band has been invited to showcase in 2010 at the East Coast Music Awards and Canadian Music Week.
The seven-piece Gypsophilia features Alec Frith, Nick Wilkinson and Ross Burns on guitars; Sageev Oore on piano and keyboards; Matt Myer on trumpet; Adam Fine on bass and Gina Burgess on violin. Frith, Myer and Burns all play with the roots-Reggae band Verbal Warnin'; Myer is an ECMA and Juno winner with the Johnny Favorite Swing Orchestra; Fine plays regularly with Bend the River and improvising guitarist Jeff Torbert. Oore has been a featured soloist with Symphony Nova Scotia and a member of the Woodchoppers Association, while Burgess has also played with the Symphony and with the Maria Osende Flamenco Company.
quick highlights:
- National Tour (June/July 2009) including performances at festivals in Saskatoon, Vancouver, Victoria, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto, Halifax, St. Johnís and Gros Morne NL)
- New album Sa-ba-da-OW! (released June 2009) spent 6 weeks at number 1 on national campus radio Jazz/Blues chart
- Nominations for 5 Nova Scotia Music Awards, including Album of the Year (2009) and Group Recording of the Year (2008, 2009), and an ECMA (Best Jazz Recording 2008)
- Extensive national airplay on CBC, including a feature on Definitely Not the Opera
- Train tour to Ontario and Quebec (Summer 2008)
- Headlining gigs at Atlantic Jazz Festival, Rimouski Festi Jazz International, Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival, Ashkenaz Festival of New Jewish Culture, Indian River Festival, Deep Roots and many others
- Showcase performances at OCFF, Ontario Contact, Contact East, ECMA, Nova Scotia Music Week
- Live concert broadcasts on CBC radio
- Independent Music Award finalist in the Jazz category (8th annual)
- Inclusion on compilation CDs for Atlantic Film Festival (Music and Image Take V, Music and Image Take IV) and ECMA (Canadian Music. East Coast Style.)
- Film score for Jeff Wheaton's film "The Lullaby of Mike Bossy" (screenings at the Atlantic Film Festival and on CBC TV)
Hello old friends. Looking dapper as always! "thanks for the add" and all that jazz. I hope we can see you in real-life soon.......... love from curse in the woods. x-jeannie.
ha. I love your sound... I checked you guys out a few months ago on here.. I'm hoping to get a gypsy band started soon here in Toronto. Do you guys have an album to buy in Toronto?
Oh boy! You're sweet AND lucky. So you get an audio lollipop! Go get your free downloadable lollipop of The DoneFors song "In a Cornfield" from www.thedonefors.com. You'll feel all sugar-rushy inside. Love, The DoneFors
Hi Ross, Sounds great. I too hope our paths cross again soon. I must make it back east.I think I left a 1950's Gibson at the Folklore. Have you seen it? Love, Holly
Just stopped by for a listen. Do you guys have a record thats available? I'd love to get it. Anyways once again, pleasure playing with you at Rancho, you guys killed it that night. We'll see you soon
