World of Music- Cafe Impromptu: French Chanson

'Café Impromptu’ is an ensemble of musicians whose shared interest is the salon and chanson music of La Belle Époque era of the 1870-80’s, and the era following. Composers of this time period such as Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel were inspirations to Django Reinhardt, a famous Romani-Belgian jazz guitarist and composer in the 1920’s-50’s.

Café Impromptu is also a space for women who share the love of this repertoire, created in 2015 by bassist Kristi O’Donnell. She was inspired when she met over a dozen women playing this style of music during Djangofest NW, America’s premier Django Music Festival in Langley on Whidbey Island.

Join us as we take you on a journey to this “Golden Age" of artistic flourishing and how it influences us in this current age.

The ensemble features bassist, Kristi O’Donnell, guitarist Jennie Mayer, accordionist/vocalist Adrienne Reed and violinist Janna Kushneryk.