Musicians that help make the Modesto music better.
Written by
John Griswold
Focus On...
A registered non-profit corp.
501[c][3]
Modesto, CA
“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.”
Plato
Local Music
In our first issue of Focus On… I introduced you to four of the musicians who help make up the Modesto jazz scene. I received so many positive comments about that column that I decided to make this an ongoing feature of Focus On… Not only will I continue to cover jazz, but I will also include musicians and singers in classical, folk, Celtic, Latin, and other genres. I will try to give you a little background, as well as what they play and where they can be seen. Also provided will be contact information in case you are looking to hire a single musician or a band or an orchestra. When possible, I will include further information and music cuts or videos on this site.
The music groups in our area struggle, as there are not a lot of venues that support the music—not enough anyway. Yes, there are a significant number of bars or cocktail lounges that hire local groups, as well as several cafes that offer live music, but to see many of these bands or musicians in a relaxed interesting atmosphere, choices are few.
Hopefully I will be able to introduce you tome remarkable musicians and some great local music. So, please enjoy and support the local groups.
Click on photos below for full enlargements.
Hot Club Faux Gitane, Gypsy Jazz
An interview with Hot Club Faux Gitane, having some fun with Gypsy Jazz
Focus On: What is this music that you do?
HCFG: Hot Club Faux Gitane is an acoustic swing band that plays in the gypsy jazz tradition of Django Reinhardt and the Quintet of the Hot Club of France. Django was a French gypsy guitarist who played in
the cafes and dance halls of 1930s and 40s Europe. He and his quintet mixed the big band swing of Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Louis Armstrong with gypsy music to create a genre that has become known as “gypsy jazz” or “gypsy swing”.
David Hawkes, Drums
Focus On, David I know you have done a lot of interesting things, can you give me some history and what you are doing. Oh and thanks for filling in with my Slim Man & Greg Vail Show
I got my first toy drum set at age 4 and started taking lessons at 8. I was the prototypical “band geek” playing in the school band from elementary school through high school.
I’ve had a love of music as far back as I can remember. After getting home from school, I would turn on top 40 radio, and play drums along with whatever was on. I wasn’t aware of it at the time, but this gave me a great foundation for understanding how music works, how songs are put together.
Greg Langlois, Saxophone
Greg Langlois was born into a family of Piano Tuners, 5 Generations long. Is a native and 3rd generation piano tuner in Modesto. He has practiced his trade in many ways, in the beginning traveling around with his grandpa and dad learning the trade. Then helping his father Ed Langlois and brother Phil Langlois build a successful piano rebuilding and music store, called Langlois Music still going strong.
His piano tuning and repair skills have allowed him to try different ways of practicing his skill. He has had the opportunity to be a traveling piano tuner and repair tech for Baldwin Pianos flying around the western US. States tuning and fixing pianos. He has tuned for Dave Brubeck, Don Henley, George Winston, Keiko Matsui and many more,
Focus On, David I know you have done a lot of interesting things, can you give me some history and what you are doing. Oh and thanks for filling in with my Slim Man & Greg Vail Show
I got my first toy drum set at age 4 and started taking lessons at 8. I was the prototypical “band geek” playing in the school band from elementary school through high school.
Anne Martin, Violin
Despite the warning, Martin forged ahead and continued her musical education. “Music has been a passport to travel for me. My parents liked to stay home and I wanted to see the world. When I was sixteen I got to travel to Austria, Yugoslavia, and Germany with the Montgomery County Youth Orchestra. I got to see Mozart’s birth place, which was an experience
I never would have had if it hadn’t been for music!” Five years later music led Martin to Europe once again when she played opera in the Spoleto Festival in Italy. “It was one of the best musical and culinary experiences of my life. Playing music and eating pasta everyday–it was great!”
Continue to Anne Martin's Page music and eating pasta everyday–it was great!”