You're never too old. CD honoured.

Subject: You're never too old. CD honoured.
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 29 Apr 01 - 11:23 AM

Wow! I am SO proud. Toronto's Club Django has won the "Canadian Collector's Congress" annual award for "Best trad or classic Jazz performance", with their album "A Tribute To The Hot Club Of France".

I met Andre (Papy) Seguinot about seven years ago when I was an instructor at "The Woods, Music and Dance Camp". He had a beautiful Favino Gypsy Guitar, and enthralled me with stories of seeing Django Reinhardt in Paris during and after the war. We stated private lessons shortly after, and Andre totally immersed himself in practicing to be a rhythm guitarist in his favoutite music. He was in his mid-sixties at the time and often expressed skepticism about whether he could find others to play with. I guess he figured that pickin' and jammin' was a "young person's game". Not so, of course. A couple of posters put up at the Tranzac here in Toronto, started bringing "Gypsy Jazz" fans (both old and young) out of the woodwork.

The band went through several incarnations, but always with Andre's commitment and enthusiasm to keep it flourishing. Through him I got to meet Jaques Favino HIMSELF(!) who signed a catalogue of his stunning guitars for me, and Robin Nolan (and his Trio) the finest English exponent of the music.

Well the hard work paid off. The current lineup of Club Django is Tony Oldland, Jonathin Marks, Fabrice Sicco, John Farrell, and Abby Scholzhberg, with Andre (now in his seventies) still at the helm.

To anyone long past the age of majority, who would love to learn to play an instrument for fun (or even a tiny profit)...You BETTER BELIEVE YOU CAN! Get yourself an instrument, and start learning!

Congratulations Andre.

Rick

Subject: RE: You're never too old. CD honoured.
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 29 Apr 01 - 11:28 AM

Here's their website.

click

Subject: RE: You're never too old. CD honoured.
From: Noreen
Date: 29 Apr 01 - 01:21 PM

Wonderful, Rick! You're right, it is inspiring to those of us learning a new instrument in our second childhood. :0)

Subject: RE: You're never too old. CD honoured.
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 29 Apr 01 - 11:45 PM

Saw harvey Andrews get a great laugh from folks at the Tranzac here in Toronto by describing his career as it was written in his gig posters over the years. Presenting the "New songwriter H.A.....Songwriter H.A......Veteran Songwriter H.A..... Legendary Songwriter H.A....he reminded us that the next step is "The Late" H.A.!!

Rick