Occidental Gypsy, in Concert

Occidental Gypsy delivers an exhilarating blend of gypsy swing, jazz, and world music with a riff-rich, roaring acoustic sound, and sultry vocals reminiscent of the first era of swing. This nationally-recognized band plays a dynamic, multi-genre mix of original vocal and instrumental pieces and with many notable covers like a “gypsyfied” take on Michael Jackson’s Thriller. The Boston Globe has named them a “Best Bet for Weekend Entertainment,” and musician David Bromberg said of the group, “great singing, fantastic guitar and violin work, with high energy originals that leave the crowd crazy. An awesome band.” After completing his recent tour with Wynton Marsalis, Occidental’s violinist Eli Bishop rouses audiences with his award-winning lightning-fast violin, while lead guitarist Brett Feldman drives the sound with swinging gypsy guitar. Jeremy Frantz— a protege of legendary jazz guitarist Joe Negri— brings his sultry, “retro” vocals and expert jazz guitar to the front line, and serves as an exquisite counterpoint to the down-and-dirty driving sound brought by Brett. Guatemalan percussionist Erick “Banny” Cifuentes and bassist Jeff Feldman fill out the band’s rich sound and keep feet stomping with beats and complex rhythms that make their audiences keep coming back for more.