Four musicians who make up Van Django - a string swing jazz quartet - are bringing their Christmas variety show to the Michael J. Fox Theatre Dec. 18.
The Vancouver-based group, which features Cameron Wilson on violin, Budge Schachte on guitar, Finn Manniche on guitar/cello and Brent Gubbels on acoustic bass, got together in 1998. Since then, they've toured Canada, the U.S., Europe and China.
Given last year's well-received show at the St. James Hall in Vancouver, the guys decided to do it again.
"The concert did sell out, which really came as a shock to all of us," said Wilson in a phone interview with the NOW. "There was such buzz about it that we started to make it into a mini-tour in the Lower Mainland."
Van Django's sound can be described as gypsy jazz, with influences from guitarist Jean "Django" Reinhardt and American swing music of the 1930s.
"It's something that's going to be a little bit different, but it will tug at the heartstrings and be toe-tapping, too," he added. "There's also an elegance to it because it's all string instruments. The guitars are basically the drums, providing the rhythm."
The concert also features harmonica virtuoso Keith Bennett and vocalist L.J. Mounteney.
The holiday fun gets underway at 8 p.m. For more information, visit www.michaeljfoxtheatre.ca.
