Chaotic, crisp, and riding the line between genius and madness. Antigonish-based musician Donald MacLennan’s anticipated debut solo album, Belleville, is a brilliant weave of sonic textures and arrangements rooted in the style of the formidable French guitarist Django Reinhardt. A modern twist to the traditional gypsy jazz approach, MacLennan blends both manouche and jazz standards with original compositions, showcasing his arrangements and improvisation with a laissez-faire not often anticipated in a debut record. After a decade of working as both studio musician and sideman (Ben Caplan & the Casual Smokers, The Modern Grass, Tee Thomason, Jennah Barry, Michael Dalton) His take on what a gypsy jazz record should be is a refreshing reminder of what art and music can be, and he's got a live show to prove it.
LINE UP
Donald MacLennan - violin, vocals Graham Scott - accordion, melodica Michael Dalton - guitar Willem Paynter - double bass