Hot Club Pacific (HCP) stands as a leading acoustic swing ensemble in California’s Monterey Bay area, with a history spanning more than twenty years. The group’s performances draw deeply from the traditions of Django Reinhardt, Benny Goodman, and Count Basie, pairing well-known standards with overlooked gems from the Great American Songbook. Their approach balances tight ensemble control with a sense of forward motion, giving their music the characteristic drive of classic hot jazz.
Throughout its career, the group has appeared on radio and television and contributed to a motion picture soundtrack. It has also performed at nearly every major Django Reinhardt festival in the United States, establishing itself as a consistent presence within the American gypsy jazz circuit.
Hot Club Pacific has collaborated with a range of notable guest artists, including Bruce Forman, Howard Alden, Mimi Fox, and Larry Coryell, and has also shared the stage with Joan Baez.
The ensemble maintains a regular weekly performance at Gayle’s Bakery in Capitola, California, where it continues to engage a dedicated local audience while attracting listeners from across the West Coast.
Press
In the Santa Cruz Sentinel, Ann Parker wrote:
“At 7 p.m. sharp, Hot Club Pacific swung into action. And I do mean swung. This tight trio of Marc Schwartz, Jack Fields, and Matt Bohn—on guitars and bass, respectively—cranked out some of the best Django Reinhardt-style hot jazz I’ve heard in a long while.”
Additional praise has come from Michael Steinman of JazzLives, reinforcing the group’s standing among serious jazz listeners. http://jazzlives.wordpress.com/2012/01/31/the-real-thing-hot-club-pacific/
