By Festival/Event Organizers:
“Our Festival has been providing jazz/swing music for over 25 years. We bring in some of the established jazz stars of the world. It has been astounding to see the positive audience reaction to the Faux Frenchmen in just a short time. The sale of their CD’s tops that of any performers we have had here.”
- Joe Boughton (1934-2010) : Founder/artistic director of Jazz at Chautauqua, Allegheny Jazz Society and Jump Records
“I engaged the Frenchmen to play for the international jazz record collectors last year. This is a serious group of jazz people. They loved the group. The spirit, energy and talent of the Faux Frenchmen are remarkable.”
- Duncan Scheidt : Renowned jazz photographer, author and historian
“This group swings joyfully in the wonderful tradition of the Hot Club Of France. Their technical brilliance is equaled by their high energy and musical taste. Our Swing Series audiences have loved their performances which is why I and other festivals keep bringing them back.”
- Rod Barr : Xavier University Masters of Swing Concert Series
By Musicians:
“The Faux Frenchmen is the best group I have yet heard that continues the tradition of “Gypsy Jazz” created by Django Reinhardt and the Quintet du Hot Club de France. Many groups have come and gone, with a “Hot Club” in every decent–size city in France and throughout Europe and the World. The uniqueness of this group lies in its humor, its virtuosity, originality within the tradition, and in the musicians’ individual choices in pushing the envelope of the “Hot Club” genre. They perform sophisticated compositions of Astor Piazzola, Raymond Scott’s “Powerhouse”, the theme from “Spiderman”, several original compositions that have a creative freedom from tradition without losing a reverence for it. And for the traditionalist, they have a large repertoire of the “standards” of the Quintette du Hot Club’s repertoire, from “Avalon” to “Minor Swing.” Individually, all four are at the top of their game. As an ensemble, they have a connection that is rarely found today. As a fellow jazz musician, I am jealous of them for having each other.”
- Andy Stein : Grammy winning violinist/saxophonist with “Guy’s All-Star Shoe Band” (“A Prairie Home Companion”) and co-founder of “Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen.”
“The Faux Frenchmen is a wonderful, hot, swinging, entertaining group, performing great songs with unique arrangements at the highest musical level. Each player is a master on his instrument. A must see/hear!”
- Gene Bertoncini : Renowned jazz guitarist
“The Faux Frenchmen are faithful to Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli’s Hot Club of Paris style and a wonderful, fun group live.”
- Bill Halverson : Legendary producer, engineer, arranger for Crosby Stills & Nash, Cream, Keith Jarrett, Don Ellis, Herbie Mann, Freddie King and countless others
"I've seen the Faux Frenchmen on several occasions, and you'd be hard-pressed to find a more musical and authentic gathering of musicians anywhere. They pay a wonderful tribute to this era of jazz while bringing modern sensibilities that their crowds find engaging. HIGHLY recommended!"
- Michael Mavridoglou: Jazz Mandolin Project
By Radio Personalities:
“Their new cd is wonderful...monster upright bass playing by Don Aren!”
- Michael Jonathon: Woodsong’s Old Time Radio Hour
“Who needs rock salt when you’ve got the Faux Frenchmen on the radio? Definitely some hot stuff. We love the cd!”
- Mike Graves: WUKY Lexington, Ky.
“The Faux Frenchmen have played a live set on my radio show on 89.7 WNKU to celebrate the January birthdays of Django Reinhardt & Stephane Grappelli every year now for at least 8 years. I've never, not once, been to a show when I wasn't totally blown away at some point. The artistry: Aren on the double bass...bowing, plucking....creating delightful percussion sounds, fiddler Patterson creating the sweetest sounds imaginable, Lovely pickin' to beat the devil and Cunningham holding it all together with his rock-solid rhythms. From Hot Club classics like Swing 39 and Nuages to their ala Hot Club arrangements of John Lennon, Brian Wilson, George Gershwin & others (Spiderman? Yep, Spiderman) to their own original swing pieces (all are capable composers), any Faux Frenchmen show continues to reside at the top of my “wish list”.”
- Brian O'Donnell : WNKU / WGUC Cincinnati, Oh. |
