Swing from Paris are a UK quartet of violin, guitars and double bass, inspired by the great swing bands of the 1930s and ’40s.
They present their own versions of music by Gershwin, Piazzolla, Gershwin, Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli. It’s Benny Goodman and Charlie Christian meets the Hot Club of France: expect stylish jazz and vintage swing.
They’ve been seen on the BBC’s Hairy Bikers, and have appeared at major jazz festivals including Cheltenham, Brecon and the Django Reinhardt Festival at Samois sur Seine.
The band
Fenner Curtis: Violin
Fenner is a classically-trained violinist based in Cheltenham. Struck by the music of Django Reinhardt at a young age – when his local youth orchestra desk partner gave him a cassette of Stéphane Grappelli – he has been hooked ever since. With Andy Bowen he formed Swing from Paris, performing at festivals and jazz clubs around the UK.
Andy Bowen: Guitar
Andy takes inspiration from the great jazz guitarists of the 30s and 40s, chiefly Django Reinhardt, Charlie Christian and George Barnes. He has a jazz guitar YouTube channel and splits his time between performing with Swing from Paris & Moscow Drug Club, teaching jazz guitar, lusting after guitars and making YouTube videos.
Sam Hughes: Guitar
Sam is a guitarist/composer based in Herefordshire. Raised on a strict diet of 60s/70s blues and rock, he was turned on to the music of Django Reinhardt after hearing the great gypsy guitarist Angelo Debarre. As well as working on his own original jazz compositions, Sam enjoys reworking the music of Mozart, Chopin and J.S. Bach into the gypsy jazz style. Improvising with spontaneity and humour, he is equally as likely to break into a Led Zeppelin riff as a Bach motif without warning.
Tomasz Williams: Double bass
Tomasz is a double bass player from Cheltenham. He draws influence from 50s and 60s jazz bassists such as Paul Chambers and Ron Carter, and has performed in many residencies around the South West in a trio setting.
Licensed bar. Doors open 7pm. Concert starts at 7:30pm
Please note that on the night tickets will cost £17.50 and £13.50 respectively