It’s like what happened when the chocolate bar fell in a jar of peanut butter.
Douce Ambience is a string trio with a new musical flavor that’s as tasty as a peanut butter cup.
The new band features cellist James Hinkley, violist Gwen Franz and Michael Gray on violin and will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28 at Whidbey Island Center for the Arts in Langley.
Also on the bill that evening is the well-known Seattle gypsy jazz quintet Pearl Django, with bass player Rick Leppanen, David Lange on accordion, Ryan Hoffman and Troy Chapman on guitar, and Gray again adding his virtuosic violin.
Douce Ambience is Gray’s baby and he is excited by the band’s latitude of style and delicious combinations of tonal flavors.
“I have always wanted to do a bowed strings project that incorporated all styles of music,” Gray said. “Douce Ambience is a great outlet for Gwen, James and myself, in that it allows us to try anything.”
“Gwen Franz really has a beautiful tone and is the sonic glue that holds us together,” he said. “And James — who is a Whidbey resident by the way — is a great player, but an even better arranger and composer. His arrangements of the Beatles stuff are way cool.”
On the band’s playlist are arrangements of American fiddle tunes, jazz standards, the blues, Musette waltzes, Wayne Shorter hard bop from the ’60s, the Beatles, Brahms, Brazilian choros (choro means “little lament”) and a polka, in addition to about 10 original songs by the group.
“We really just play what we like and so far, people have really responded,” he added.
Hinkley said he would describe the band’s thrust as a modern jazz string trio which branches off into a variety of styles both new and old.
“I think audiences come with a bit of suspicion, because there are some clunky crossover string projects that sound pretty much like warmed-over classical music,” Gray said.
“We have managed to win them over, mainly because we try and bring something new and personal to the table in whatever mode we are playing.”
The evening promises to be a satisfying mix of Douce Ambience’s new style and an old favorite.
Pearl Django is in its 17th year of performing gypsy jazz. The band is presently recording its 11th CD, with one track featuring world renown jazz guitarist Martin Taylor, a Djangofest Northwest favorite. Speaking of local, Chapman and Hinkley might be recognized also for their performances with other Whidbey Island favorites such as Trio Nouveau and Billet-Deux.
Chapman said that both ensembles will perform a set of original music mixed with standards from their repertoire, and that there will certainly be some collaborative fireworks, with all the musicians sharing the stage before the night is through.
All seats for this show are $20. Call the box office at 221-8268 or 800-638-7631 or visit www.WICAonline.com for tickets.
