Image courtesy Le Hot Club de Big Lick

Le Hotclub de Biglick: Jeff Hofmann (from left), Cyrus Pace, Billy Hurt and Bob Casey.

If you've ever wondered what it would be like to absorb the kinetic and musically adventurous world of the pre-WWII Parisian jazz scene, look no further than Roanoke's own slice of Francophilia, Le Hotclub de Biglick.

Le Hotclub — Cyrus Pace (guitar), Jeff Hofmann (bass), Bob Casey (rhythm guitar) and Billy Hurt (violin) — pulls its inspiration and raison d'etre from the music of Franco/Gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt's "le Quintette of the Hot Club," the name given to the informal jam sessions he held at Paris' Hotel Claridge in 1934.

Reinhardt, along with violinist Stephane Grappelli, led the hotel's house band at the time and used their between-set breaks to explore the possibilities in blending the music of their shared European heritage with the burgeoning sound of American jazz.

On several labels, the drummer-less Quintette would release numerous records filled with the pure, unadulterated joy of musicians in the throes of mutual discovery. They would tour much of Europe until 1939, when they had the misfortune of gigging in London when England declared war on Germany.

World War II changed everybody's plans for the next six years. Le Quintette's time was over.

Although our Hotclub's been together for nearly a year, the group's played a mere handful of performances in Roanoke. When they do get together, however, they spare no expense in giving their audiences an authentic night of '30s Gypsy swing.

Decked out in tuxedos, our quartet does its best to invoke the spirit of the era: well-rehearsed and clearly enjoying the same camaraderie shared by the original Quintette with just enough flair for improvisational prowess to wow not only their audiences but themselves.

It's not uncommon to hear a member yell an encouraging "Yeah!" after a truly inspired lick with beatific smiles on all their faces while they transport themselves to a time when everyone, even us Roanokers, "will always have Paris."

Q: How would you describe Gypsy jazz to someone who's never heard it?

Jeff Hofmann: It was really just these guys in France trying to emulate the jazz they'd heard in the States, except they'd use guitars and violins instead of saxophones and trumpets. Django is the most famous — he managed to really make a name for himself here.

Q: Isn't the film "Sweet and Low Down" about him?

A: It's about a fictitious guitar player [played by Sean Penn], who's this tough guy who always thought he was the Best Guitarist Ever, yet every time he heard Django, his massive ego was driven to tears. When he finally gets to meet him, he faints. It's a great film. Django was that good.

Q: As a bass player, is it challenging to play without a drummer?

A: Not really. The guitars are very percussive. Bob gets this really great faux snare/hi-hat thing going ... it's very cool. As a bass player, I can really lean on his hand. I like it a lot. We try to be authentic as possible — it's part of the fun — and for some reason, there really weren't a lot of drummers in France at the time. There were plenty of accordions, clarinets and violins ... but drummers? No, not yet. A regional thing, maybe?

Q: What drew you to this music in the first place?

A: I heard an ensemble do a Gypsy classical piece at Roanoke College, and it had this certain flair to it. I just went "Wow!" When I heard Django, it sounded like music you'd hear in a silent film. It just evokes images from that era ... just this lively, bouncy, pretty, Gypsy sound. You don't know what it is really, you just know it when you hear it.

Hear a sample of Gypsy jazz at unisonfoundation.org/Musicians/hotclub.htm

DINNER MUSIC WITH LE HOT CLUB DE BIG LICK

When: Sunday, April 9

Where: Rockfish Food & Wine, 1402 Grandin Road S.W., Roanoke

Reservations recommended (they fill up quickly)

Call: (540) 904-5454

MORE GYPSY JAZZ

Ameranouche

Ameranouche!!!

Who? Gypsy jazz ensemble from New Hampshire, dedicated to the music of Django Reinhardt and the spirit of Jazz Manouche. The trio is composed of Richard "Shepp" Sheppard on lead guitar, Ryan Flaherty on rhythm guitar and Benjamin Wood on acoustic upright bass.

When? The trio performs at two area venues:

8 p.m. Wednesday at the Club at Fiji Island, Roanoke. All ages. $8 in advance/$10 day of show. 343-6751, www.theclubatfiji.com.

8 p.m. April 7 at Sun Music Hall in Floyd. $8 in advance/$10 day of show. 745-7880, www.wintersuninc.net/thesun. Hear sound clips on the IO Jukebox.