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Have a cool yule with Van Django

Van Django is back in Coquitlam next week to shake off the winter blues with their annual Christmas concert.
van django

 

Van Django is back in Coquitlam next week to shake off the winter blues with their annual Cool Yule concert.

The quartet — made up of guitarist Budge Schachte, violinist Cameron Wilson, guitarist/cellist Finn Manniche and bassist Brent Gubbels — will return to the Evergreen Cultural Centre with the same two guest musicians it’s pair up with for past Christmas shows: harmonica virtuoso Keith Bennett and vocalist L.J. Mounteney.

Schachte said the gypsy jazz band got to know Bennett years ago when “we had him sit in with us and he sounded great with our stuff.”

And when the band’s regular singer became unavailable, Bennett introduced the members to Mounteney. “She’s fun and bubbly and likes talking to the crowd. She’s been the perfect fit,” Schachte said.

This past summer, they cut a Christmas CD — of which some of the songs from the album will be played next week for shows at the Rogue Folk Club in Vancouver and at the Evergreen.

Among the tunes on their setlist are: Skating, It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas, I’ll Be Home for Christmas, Sleigh Ride, ‘Zat You Santa Claus and In the Bleak Midwinter — the latter in a Celtic style.

Schachte, who now lives on the Sunshine Coast, said they’ll also spice up Let It Snow as a slow Argentine tango.

Though Van Django’s sound is unique, Schachte said their audience’s tastes are diverse. “We’re pretty accessible for people: We have jazz lovers and general music lovers. It’s very entertaining for everyone.”

• Tickets for Cool Yule: A Swingin’ Christmas Show on Dec. 16 are available by calling the Evergreen Cultural Centre (1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam) at 604-927-6555 or visiting evergreenculturalcentre.ca. The event, which is part of Evergreen’s TD Music Series, starts at 7:30 p.m.
 

jcleugh@tricitynews.com
@jcleughTC