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Gypsophilia

GYPSOPHILIA at Roy Thomson Hall (60 Simcoe) as part of Live On The Patio, Friday (June 26), doors 5 pm, concerts 6:30 and 8 pm. Free. roythomson.com.


When Gypsophilia formed in Halifax in 2004, they were stunned to find lineups of fans waiting outside venues, eager to party the night away to the band’s Django Reinhardt-inspired style of Gypsy swing jazz. 

“[The response] was kind of rabid, actually,” says guitarist/percussionist Ross Burns over the phone from a tour stop near Winnipeg. 

Fans have stuck with the seven-piece instrumental ensemble ever since, even though the band’s music has moved away from a Reinhardt redo toward something quite its own, drawing on klezmer, classical, funk, tango. 

Their new record, Night Swimming (Forward Music Group), is their most contemporary-sounding so far, thanks to producer Joshua Van Tassel’s incorporation of atmospheric electronic and psychedelic touches that complement the newly darkened sound.

Burns feels the title sums it all up. “This album has darker, mysterious, more pensive, maybe conflicted sounds, but also joy and excitement and eroticism. The act of night swimming is a little bit ominous and has a you’re-not-sure-you-should feeling. But you only live once, and you gotta just jump.”

Live, it’s still going to prompt a dance party, no doubt. Is that the trick to getting crowds out?

“You really have to give people a show,” Burns advises. “That personal energy is infectious. If you’re excited about what you’re doing, that’s the best aphrodisiac. If you’re enchanted, other people will be, too.”

What about building a social media presence?

“It’s easy to put so much weight on all the Twitter success in the world these days,” Burns says, “but the stuff that matters is truly creating a personal connection with the people who come out.

“We’re also committed to putting on a show for the people rather than for ourselves, which doesn’t always happen in jazz or classical or avant-garde music.”

Does the venue matter: say a dive bar versus a Roy Thomson Hall’s elegant patio?

“We always put on the same show in whatever context. The music really does translate – we don’t have to do a DJ set or whatever.

“That’s why I love where we’re at right now. We don’t go onstage wondering if it’ll be a good show. We know we’ll get the most out of that room. We know we’re going to do a good job doing our thing. And if anyone’s even remotely susceptible to our sound, we’re gonna get them.”

carlag@nowtoronto.com | @carlagillis

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