OLD Whidbey Life Magazine

Author: Betty Freeman

Hot stages, hot streets in Langley at DjangoFest NW

BY BETTY FREEMAN
Whidbey Life Magazine contributor
Sept. 16, 2013

“What’s a DjangoFest?”

That’s the question Whidbey Island Center for the Arts Executive Director Stacie Burgua asked 13 years ago when DjangoFest founder Nick Lehr approached her with a proposal to create a Northwest version of the festival in Langley in 2000.

Burgua was skeptical, but Lehr kept after her because he knew gypsy jazz music and believed people would come from off-island to hear it.

In 2001, the first DjangoFest was held in Langley, with two concerts featuring Pearl Django and the Robin Nolan Trio playing both nights.

The phenomena of people coming from afar to those 2001 concerts made Burgua a believer, paving the way for WICA’s five-day, internationally recognized festival, now in its 13th year.

DjangoFest Northwest starts Wednesday, Sept 18 and continues through Sunday, Sept. 22, five days when master musicians from around the world and gypsy jazz fans convene for a celebration of “le jazz hot” á la Django Reinhardt.

Reinhardt was born in Belgium in 1910, a member of the Manouche gypsies, who lived an open air, nomadic life in the countryside near Paris. At age 12, a neighbor gave Reinhardt his first instrument, a banjo/guitar, which he quickly learned to play, mimicking the fingerings of other musicians he watched. Soon he was accompanying an accordionist at a Paris dance hall. He continued to play with other musicians and bands until a life-changing event in 1928.

A fire in his caravan severely burned his left hand and right side, and Reinhardt spent 18 months recovering from his injuries. During this time he was given a guitar, and with great determination, created a new fingering system built around the two fingers on his left hand that still had mobility.

Influenced by recordings of jazz musicians Eddie Lang, Joe Venuti, Louis Armstrong, and Duke Ellington, Reinhardt developed his signature playing style, along with his reputation as a master improviser, seldom playing a solo the same way twice. He was considered a genius composer and a master musician, turning out a seemingly unending series of beautiful melodies and sophisticated harmonies.

In 1934, Reinhardt met violinist Stephané Grappelli and they organized The Quintet of the Hot Club of France. The group played together in clubs and made innovative, sensational recordings throughout the 1930s, then separated during World War II.

After the war, Reinhardt and Grappelli reunited to continue their memorable collaboration onstage and in the recording studio, until Reinhardt’s retirement to the village of Samois sur Seine in 1951.

Reinhardt died in 1953, but his musical legacy lives on in modern gypsy jazz music that echoes his specific style of lead guitar fingering, and “le pompe” style of rhythm guitar, the percussion component of gypsy jazz. Additionally, gypsy jazz enjoyed a revival in the 1970s and has been gaining momentum ever since, with annual festivals celebrating the Reinhardt style throughout Europe. Thanks to Lehr’s vision and WICA’s gamble, Reinhardt’s legacy lives on in the United States, as well, with DjangoFest Northwest turning Langley into the first organized American celebration of gypsy jazz music and one of most popular “hot” spots for celebrating gypsy jazz in the United States.

This year’s DjangoFest lineup has a satisfying mix of respected masters of the form and the treat of seeing up-and-coming, young musicians performing, too.

Headlining DjangoFest 2013 is guitarist and composer Fapy Lafertin of Holland, who kept Reinhardt’s style alive in the 1970s with his first band, Waso.

Lafertin will play Sunday night with special guests Tcha Limberger, the Belgian violin virtuoso who captivated last year’s DjangoFest audiences; veteran guitarist Dave Kelbie; and world-renowned bassist Simon Planting.

Opening on Sunday night is the new Whidbey Island trio 3-Cent Stamp featuring the young (but extraordinarily accomplished) violinist Gloria Ferry-Brennan, along with the stellar James Hinkley on cello and the ever-enjoyable Levi Burkle on guitar.

New to the lineup this year is 23-year-old Finnish guitarist Olli Soikkeli, and the Canadian group Brishen, featuring 17-year-old guitarist Quinn Bachand and violinist Richard Moody, a folk music veteran. Brishen headlines the Thursday evening concert.

A Pacific Northwest favorite, Pearl Django, featuring Langley’s Troy Chapman on lead guitar, will play Friday night, with Olli Soikkeli as the opening act.

Gonzolo Bergera returns to the festival this year, along with another local audience favorite, the John Jorgenson Quintet. Bergera and his New Hot Club of America will play Saturday night. Jorgenson’s Quintet headlines the Friday night show.

Young players will learn from veterans in workshops and jam sessions throughout the festival, new techniques will be mastered and shared, and lucky audiences will witness some truly inspired collaborations and exciting performances. Quite simply, DjangoFest is a not-to-be-missed annual treat.

Tickets range in price from $32 to $70 and are available online at tickets.wicaonline.com or by calling the WICA Ticket Office at (800) 638-7631.

For festival information, including artists line up, workshops, bios, music, and videos, also visit tickets.wicaonline.com.

Betty Freeman, an award-winning writer and editor, lives in Clinton. Once she discovered gypsy jazz in 2006 she became an instant fan. She can’t wait for this year’s DjangoFest to begin.

(Pictured at top, Fapy Lafertin of Holland headlines DjangoFest Northwest at WICA./Photo courtesy of WICA)

September 16, 2013
Clinton Thursday Market channels community energy

BY BETTY FREEMAN
Whidbey Life Magazine contributor
July 10, 2013

Brake for Clinton’s Thursday Market, where there’s a party every Thursday from 3:30 to 7 p.m. and the community comes out to celebrate.

Now in its second year, enjoy the sunshine at the market where folks relax, have dinner, listen to live music, buy from local vendors and enjoy visiting with neighbors and friends.

This year, organizers of the Thursday Market have a year of experience to fall back on, and have hopes that the cozy market will continue to grow as the word gets out.

“We want the Clinton Market to be a weekly summer party for the community,” said market manager Carol Flax.

“People love having a local market and it’s a fun community gathering.”

Located just off Highway 525 behind the Dairy Queen and adjacent to Clinton Square, the market opens for the season July 11 and continues each Thursday through Aug. 29, giving both locals and tourists a reason to brake for the sometimes overlooked Clinton. Find 20 vendors selling everything from artistic gifts, flowers, fresh produce, and health and beauty products, to jewelry, ceramics, collectibles, garden supplies, Hawaiian massages and prepared food.

A welcome addition this year is the new beer garden featuring Diamond Knot Kraft beers and wine from local vineyards. Comfort’s of Whidbey wine will be featured July 11, followed by other local vineyards in the coming weeks, Flax said.

Featured vendors Eric and Britt Conn of Full Cycle Farm and their baby boy Kai will welcome Market-goers this week. (Photo courtesy of Carol Flax)

Flax also plans to feature a different vendor or product each week starting with Eric and Britt Conn of Full Cycle Farm as this week’s star vendors. Full Cycle Farm grows a wide variety of vegetables, fruits and berries throughout the summer. Though not a certified organic farm, the Conns practice holistic farming methods and don’t use chemicals on their Maxwelton Valley farm.

“Britt and Eric work to increase the health and life energy of their land and the community,” Flax said.

Last summer, Britt was pregnant with the Conn’s first child. This year, baby Kai will attend the Market in his usual transport, the backpack.

Some other producers include Tom White, a farmer new to Clinton, selling fresh produce and Bao Lor Garden featuring stunning summer bouquets and seasonal produce, as well.

To help launch the 2013 market season this week, Hal and Gretchen Schlomann of Fern Ridge Alpacas on Holst Road in Clinton will bring Finnley and Bendito from their alpaca herd to interact with market-goers.

Al fresco dining choices the first week will be tamales and baked goods from Trés Gringos, and later this summer, Whidbey Rice will offer Thai food.

“Our intention is that people will stop by the market and have dinner on Thursday nights,” Flax said. “We’ve got picnic tables near the bandstand so people can enjoy music while they eat.”

The flower sisters of Bao Lor Farm offer summer bouquets and seasonal vegetables at their popular Clinton Market stand. (Betty Freeman photo)

While relaxing over a plate of spicy tamales with a glass of beer from Diamond Knot, July 11 market guests can enjoy rock ’n roll by local favorite the Tim Donovan Band. Next week, July 18, local high-school student Sanna Bjork will spin some sides as DJ for the market. Other musicians for the summer markets include The Marimbas, Nathaniel Talbot, Woody Virgil, and the Tim Donovan Band returning for encores in late July and August.

At the final Thursday Market on Aug. 29, Chef Kim Bailey of Pickles Deli will demonstrate cooking with fresh local products.

“We’re hoping for a good turnout of locals and tourists stopping by when they come off the ferry,” Flax said.

“It’s just a fun way to spend a summer Thursday afternoon.”

Visit Clinton Thursday Market’s link in the WLM Directory.

(Pictured at top, Tim and Ron of the Tim Donovan Band./ Photo courtesy of the artists.)

Betty Freeman is an award-winning freelance writer and editor who lives in Clinton with her husband Dan, a sculptor. They plan to have their dinner this Thursday at the Clinton Market and hope to see a good turnout.

July 10, 2013
All roads lead to Whidbey Island for twin artists

BY BETTY FREEMAN
Whidbey Life Magazine contributor
June 26, 2013

After careers in related fields, twin brothers Dan and Mike Burroughs of Clinton have come full circle to embrace their lifelong love of art and Whidbey Island.

Twin brothers Mike and Dan Burroughs of Clinton are both Whidbey Art Gallery artists. (Photos by Betty Freeman)

The identical twins both retired to Whidbey Island a couple of years ago. Their grandparents bought land here in 1941, and as they grew up the pair spent many happy days here at the family compound in Clinton.

“We’ve come here for vacations all our lives,” said Dan, who with his wife Ann Sayvetz moved here in 2010. “Everywhere you go here it’s like paradise.”

Brother Mike Burroughs currently lives on the property his grandparents owned and now the twins tend the vegetable garden and strawberry patch started by the older generation years ago.

Since their dad worked for Boeing, their family moved around a lot, but the Northwest always drew them back.

In their 20s, the brothers pursued fine arts.

Dan attended the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts for three years and studied painting and sculpture. But he soon realized that making a living with fine art was a tough go, and decided to go to engineering school. His long career was spent designing bridges all over the world as a structural engineer.

“In a way, bridges are a kind of industrial sculpture,” Dan said. “I designed what are called ‘signature bridges’ that combine function, beauty and cost-effectiveness.”

Mike, who always loved to draw, also tried to make a living with art for several years in his 20s, but he too decided to go back to school and study architecture.

His work as an architect took him around the world doing commercial designs for hotels and casinos.

“I’ve always loved drawing and I enjoy design,” Mike said.

“Coupeville,” a watercolor sketch by Mike Burroughs.

Now, the brothers’ fine art can be found at Whidbey Art Gallery on Second Street in Langley.

Dan currently has a wall at the co-op gallery, and Mike recently became a member. He’ll have his own wall starting at the beginning of July.

“We’re both really pleased to have juried into Whidbey Art Gallery,” Mike said.

Dan concentrates on creating oil paintings of trucks, industrial equipment and “anything rusty.” Currently, he is studying oil painting with Deon Matson at the South Whidbey Senior Center.

“Deon’s a fantastic teacher,” he said. “She really keeps me focused.”

Mike is a watercolor sketcher, and he’s joined the Whidbey Island Sketchers group that meets every Friday to sketch at various places around the island. Recent venues have included Admiralty Head Lighthouse and the Clinton ferry dock.

“It’s a really supportive group,” Mike said of the sketchers.

He ventures out on his own to sketch local landmarks and scenery too.

“I especially love drawing boats,” he said.

Both brothers have been pleased to learn how vibrant the arts community is here on Whidbey.

“People have been really helpful,” said Dan. “I’m just learning the marketing part of art, and there’s a real spirit of cooperation here among artists and a very supportive atmosphere.”

“Whidbey Island just feels like home,” Mike said.

Find Whidbey Art Gallery in the WLM directory here.

(Pictured at top, “Airstream Last,” an oil painting by Dan Burroughs at Whidbey Art Gallery.)

Betty Freeman is an award-winning freelance writer and editor who lives in Clinton with her husband Dan Freeman, a sculptor.

June 26, 2013