Herschel Freeman Agency

Gypsy Klezmer Music

 

Created by Melanie Bergeron in 2002, the musicians learned traditional pieces of the Klezmer/Tzigane repertoire and founded Gadji-Gadjo. Coming from various regions of Québec, each musician adds her/his experience making a mix of jazz, classical, South American and Québec traditional influences. Soon their passion for the musics of Eastern Europe inspired them to compose for the group, and in 2004 they had several originals added to their repertoire. With violin, mandolin, clarinet and bass clarinet, accordeon, guitar, double-bass and percussion, the group was ready to make a splash on the world music scene from Québec.

After numerous successful concerts and an increasingly large fan base, Gadji-Gadjo decided to produce their first album. Launched the 15th of June 2005, it took many listeners on a magnificent musical voyage. Original, energetic and critically acclaimed, the disc is part of Productions Mange-Ta-Main and distributed by Outside music.

Soon they were making waves across Québec as they performed throughout the province. The Montréal International Jazz Festival (2004, 05, 06), le Festival Montréal en Lumières, Festival Mémoire et Racines at Joliette, Festival du Bout du Monde at Gaspé, Just For Laughs Festival are just some of the examples of places conquered by Gadji-Gadjo. They've also toured through Québec (Gaspésie, Estrie, Charlevoix, Côte-Norde, Saguenay Lac-St-Jean, Montérégie, Lanaudière, Outaouais etc...).

The 19th of October 2007, Lion d'Or welcomed Gadji-Gadjo for the launch of their second album, entitled Sur le Toit des Voisins (On the Neighbors Roof). The radios have been giving the disc much airplay and the critics are very enthusiastic. Gadji-Gadjo has launched the disc in several cities throughout Québec during the autumn of 2007. The 2nd disc is an evolution of the 1st, still more surprising and innovative.

Still in the style Klezmer and Tzigane (with a dash of Québecois), Gadji-Gadjo is a group with a great complicity, much magic and pleasure, and their music has become contagious! The party is ready for you as the group is available when you wish, and there are 2 albums to listen to before the next show! You will love them, but the show is something else! With new compositions and hot improvisation Gadji-Gadjo is without a doubt becoming a band to look for on the Québecois world music scene.

Melanie BergeronMÉLANIE BERGERON (Accordéon)

After having finished her studies in classical piano at University of Montreal, Melanie strapped an accordion on her shoulders and formed Gadji-Gadjo. She accompanied the dance production "Un 2 sur le Dos" oin New York, and was part of the "Chango Family" in spring 2003 on accordeon and keyboards! In 2006 she was accordianist for the group "Quartango" and was on the album "Cortéo" for Cirque du Soleil. In 2007 she was accordionist and singer for "Cirque Éloize" for a Mexican tour during the "Universal Forum of Cultures Monterrey 2007".

Ivan BamfordIVAN BAMFORD (Percussions)

From Vancouver, Ivan Bamford has appreciated jazz since the age of 3. Later he left sports to dedicate his life to music. Claude Ranger and Dylan van der Schyff taught him how to improvise on the drums. He played with great musicians such as André Lachance, Bruno Hubert, Alan Matheson, and Coat Cooke before moving to MOntreal in 2001, where he found a rich scene and superb musicians among others his friends in Gadji-Gadjo! Since then he has found himself in numerous groups of different styles: Weshida, Cercamon, Katya Sourikova trio, Straight Pipe and his own group Bam Bam. He has played all over Quebec, and at jazz festivals in Vancouver (99-00), Montreal (2004-05-05) and in Baku

Pierre Oliver DufresnePIERRE-OLIVER DUFRESNE (Violin)

After having studied classical music at Ozias-Leduc of St-Hilaire, audio electronics at École Nationale d' Aéronautique and electro acoustics music at Concordia, he went to Corsica to better appreciate Québec. He managed the "Compagnie Franche de la Marine" and found new challenges and especially new inspirations in ancient music and world music. Sainte-Barbe (Medieval and Nouvelle-France music); Plumage (tribute to Plume Latraverse), Weshida (Middle EAstern chamber music) are some of the ensemble with whom he has performed. He played on the most recent albums of Jean Francois Lessard, Manon Vincent as well as Marco Calliari with whom he participated in the large ensemble "Mia Dolce Vita".

Mathieu DeschenauxMATHIEU DESCHENAUX (Double Bass)

Bachelor in jazz interpretation at McGill University in 2003, Mathieu Deschenaux is an active musician for more than five years now. He is currently playing along the sides of Émilie Proulx (Indy-Folk), eden106 (electro-pop) BoboK (musique actuelle), le Quatuor carré, le Hot Club de ma Rue (manouche swing), the jazz trio Straight pipe and Andrew Homzy. He has also collaborated and signed the music of short films (Romain et Juliette, Ampliation et Monstre) and for theatre (Chroniques et Enlèvement , séquestration et mise à mort d'un humoriste).

 

 

Jean DesrochersJEAN DESROCHERS (Guitare)

Jean Desrochers colaborated with diverse formations like Caramba, Syncop and Kleztory, He is also a member of the trio La Shunta, a group inspired by South American Folk music La Shunta. He made a Music study trip to Argentina in 2001 and is now working on a new project of traditional music from Québec that should be done by the end of 2007.

 

 

 

 

Jean Sebastien LeblancPascal Veillette (Harmonicas)

Harmonica master Pascal Veillette is a long-time presence on the stages of Quebec and France, as well as in the classroom where he communicates his passion to students.  After studying popular music and jazz interpretation in college, he found his place in two distinct worlds--Québecois traditional music and experimental music--where he garnered critical acclaim for his unique rhythms and innovative melodic forays.  Pascal has played in Tireux de Roches, the stories and films of Fred Pellerin, Kamendja, les Roturiers, Michel Comeau Jazz and Ganesh Anandan, before bringing a special new dimension to the music of Gadji-Gadjo.

Press Photo

gadji      

 

Tour Schedule


2010

March 12 Fairmont Opera House, Fairmont MN
March 13 Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis MN
March 14 Legion Arts, Cedar Rapids IA
October 17 Buckman Performing Arts Center, Memphis TN

2011

January 22 Carnegie Concert Hall, Pittsburgh PA


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