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My Django swing style group, Lezards de Salon, is performing on Friday, July 14th 6:30 - 8:30 at the Lost Boy Cider Pub. 317 Hooffs Run Drive, Alexandria, VA , USA. https://www.lostboycider.com/event/bastille-day-party/

Yesterday my swing jazz group, DC Ambiance, was featured at the Washington Folk Festival on the Yurt Village Stage. Photos by Jeffrey MacMillan.

MY FAVORITE THINGS was composed by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II for The Sound Of Music in 1959. This is a live recording from a performance on Feb 13, 2020 at the Restaurant and Wine Bar, Blend 111. Buco Cavar and Bill Parmentier - Guitar Alex Novak - Upright Bass Randy Stein - English Concertina

Based on the classic gypsy jazz standard Bossa Dorado by Dorado Schmitt. I had a dream that my group played this as a tango. Woke up and played it as I heard it. I used the recording app Soundtrap to record a rhythm and then lead. Listen to Tango Dorado EC by user827948939 on #SoundCloud https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/j56b

Gypsy Jazz Jamm Porch Concert Featuring Lezards Des Salon Sunday, Oct 18th. 3:00-4:30 pm 1109 Crestwood Drive Alexandria, VA Facemasks and Social Distancing Apply No charge

Gypsy Jazz Jam Porch Concert on Aug 30th. Excuse the misspelling on YouTube. Auto spell.

Inspired by Gegor Maekic's solo performance of this tune I decided to post a live performance of the same. From the the 1959 Musical Sound of Music by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein. DC Ambiance: Buco and Bill Parmentier - Acoustic Guitar Alex Nowack - Upright Bass Me - Wheatstone English Concertina

Written in 1991 by the famed guitarist Stochelo Rosenberg. Performed live at Blend 111 DC 1-30-2020 Listen to For Sephora by DC Ambiance on #SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/dcambiance/for-sephora

Performed by DC Ambiance live at Blend 111 Cafe, January 9th. Jitterbug Waltz written by Fats Domino,1942. Buco Cavar and Bill Parmentier - Guitar Randy Stein - English Concertina Listen to Jitterbug Waltz (live at Blend 111, Vienna VA) by DC Ambiance on #SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/dcambiance/jitterbug-waltz-live-at-blend-111-vienna-va

About 6 years ago I decided to dedicate myself to developing a way to play and perform in the swing jazz style of Django Reinhardt, the famed swing European jazz guitarist. A few years ago I was lucky enough to plug into a weekly gypsy jazz jam session. While the EC was at first a bit of an oddity in this musical venue I slowly received acceptance and began to get offers to gig. That led to Buco Cavar, a well known jazz guitarist in the area, inviting me to be part of DC Ambiance and we've been performing our arrangements ever since. DC Ambiance is performing Wednesday December 18th at the Bossa Bistro Lounge from 8:00 - 10:00. This is a major DC music venue. There is a small cover charge for the musicians. Come swing in the holiday season with us and support live music. Will be a fun night for sure!

DC Ambiance will perform at Grounded Coffee Shop 6919 Telegraph Road Alexandria, VA https://groundedcoffeeshop.com/ Saturday Dec 7th 1:00-3:00 PM Open to the public Great food and drink Come swing with us Bill Parmentier and Buco - Guitar Randy Stein - English Concertina

Sway Performed in Concert by DC Ambiance Buco and Bill Parmentier - Guitars Shawn Simon - Upright Bass Randy Stein - English Concertina https://soundcloud.com/user827948939/sway-performed-by-dc-ambiance-in-concert-7-7-18

This is from yesterdays rehearsal with DC Ambiance in preparation for Saturdays concert. The tune is Blue Drag written in 1935 by Django Reinhardt. https://soundcloud.com/user827948939/blue-drag-practice-7-3-19 Moved from previous posting

Written by the great musette accordion player, Tony Murena. Passion was performed by DC Ambiance in Concert July 6, 2019. Buco and Bill Parmentier - Acoustic Gypsy Guitars, Shawn Simon - Upright Bass, Randy Stein - English Concertina. https://soundcloud.com/user827948939/passion-a-gypsy-waltz-by-tony-murena

DC Ambiance - An Evening of Gypsy Jazz When: 06 Jul 2019 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM Location: Seekers Church Channeling Django Reinhardt, Stéphane Grappelli, and the legendary Quintette du Hot Club, DC Ambiance is a “Gypsy jazz” quartet bringing together talent from Puget Sound to Yale to Sarajevo. Buco Cavar (guitar) studied jazz guitar under Tony do Rosario and Alfonso Ponticelli; Bill Parmentier (guitar), influenced by DjangoFest Northwest, studied under jazz guitarists Robin Nolan and Lollo Meier in Europe; Randy Stein (concertina) has performed at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall and on John Lennon’s last album, Double Fantasy; and bassist Shawn Simon has played with Sage Jazz and the Ashley Mitchell Band. At Seekers Church, 276 Carroll St. NW, Washington DC 20012 (Metro: Takoma). $20; members $10. https://www.fsgw.org/event-3448147

I was recently invited to perform at a house concert with the gypsy jazz trio Mid-Atlinatic Swing. We had one rehearsal that mostly involved various kinds of beer. A couple weeks later we performed 2 sets on the fly. Bei Mir Bist Du Shein was written for the Yiddish Theater in 1932 by Jacob Jacobs. Translated it means "to me you're beautiful". This was first time we played this togther.

I was recently invited to perform at a house concert with the gypsy jazz trio Mid-Atlinatic Swing. We had one rehearsal that mostly involved various kinds of beer. A couple weeks later we performed 2 sets on the fly. Manha De Carnaval was written in 1959 by Luiz Bonfa for the movie Black Orfeus. This was the first time we performed this tune togther and the qulity of sound isn't great but man did I have a lot of fun!

If you enjoy the English Concertina as well as jazz and folk music,and are in or around the DC Metro area, I will be performing and doing workshops in the coming month: Friday June 7th 6:00-6:30: Ein Lanu Z'man in a Pre-Kabbalat Shabbat Concert. Free to the public. At Agudas Achim Congregation (2908 Valley Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302) Sunday June 16th 6:00-8:00: Performing with Mid-Atlantic Swing, a gypsy jazz group, at a house concert https://www.facebook.com/events/458769888216553/?ti=ia Friday June 21st: DC Farmers Market, 12th & Independance ST NW from 11:00 - 1:00. Gypsy Jazz with the amazing Charlie Schueller on accordion Saturday June 22nd 1:00-3:00: Introduction to Playing the Concertina with Jim Besser. At the School of Musical Traditions in Rockville, MD. https://hmtrad.com/…/sat-june-22-introduction-to-concertina… Friday June 28th 11:00-1:00: DC Farmers Market. 12th & Independance St NW. My Folk Duo - 2Many Buttons, with Jim Besser on the Anglo Concertina Saturday July 6th 7:00-9:00: DC Ambiance in Concert, An Evening of Gypsy Jazz. The Carroll Cafe at Seekers Church, 276 Carroll St NW, Takoma Park, MD

Jardin D'Hiver by Henri Salvador. Performed by the gypsy jazz group, DC Ambiance https://soundcloud.com/user827948939/jardin-dhiver-1

Looking for something to do in the Washington, DC Metro area on May 18th in the afternoon that’s cool, fun, and relatively close to being free? Come here my Gypsy Jazz Group, DC Ambiance perform at DC’s first Gypsy Jazz Summit. THE VENUE "Singer's Glen": You Are Welcome to Bring Your Lawn Chair!

DC Ambiance Performing Live at FSGW Music Festival Feb 3, 2018 "Sweet Sue, Just You" Song Published 1928 composed by Victor Young. Performed by the Gypsy Jazz Group, DC Ambiance: Guitars: Buco Cavar & Bill Parmentier Clarinet: Suzanne Gekker Bass: Cyndy Elliott English Concertina: Randy Stein https://soundcloud.com/user827948939/sweet-sue-just-you

Check out my bands new website: www.dcambiance.com

I am part of a new five piece band, DC Ambiance. We play gypsy jazz in the style of Django Reinhardt. Here is a recent recording from a rehearsal. The piece is Jardin D'Hiver https://soundcloud.com/user827948939/jardin-dhiver-1 We will have our first gig at Haydee's Restaurant in DC on Jan 5th. Come if you're in the area.