Sixth Annual Redwood Coast Whale & Jazz Festival Dinner & Jazz with gypsy jazz by the Bo Django Guitars St. Orres Dining Room Friday, April 4, 2008 Seatings at 6:00-6:15 and 8:00-8:15 p.m.

On the second night of the Whale & Jazz Festival, Rosemary Campiformio, owner and Executive Chef extraordinaire at St. Orres will again host Dinner & Jazz with Bo Django Guitars European Gypsy Jazz enhancing the ambiance of St. Orres' spectacular, three-story, plant-filled dining room.

Dinner price includes the jazz entertainment! Cost for the dinner is $50*, and includes three courses, soup, salad, a choice of entrees. *Does not include beverages, tax & gratuity. Appetizers and desserts are available à la carte, as are fine wines and microbrews from St. Orres cellar. There will be two seatings for dinner and jazz, at 6:00-6:15 p.m. and at 8:00-8:15 p.m.

Due to the popularity of this event, advance reservations are highly recommended and a credit card guarantee is required. Call 707-884-3335 to make reservations. MC/VI accepted.

Jazz Artists

Bo Django Guitars, an exciting new musical group and an offshoot of the Europa Jazz Quartet, Bo Django, plays the fiery music created in the 1930s and '40s by legendary French Gypsy guitarist, Django Reinhardt, and carried on today largely by European Gypsies and non-Gypsies alike. Known today as "Gypsy jazz," "Gypsy Swing," "Hot Club" music, or "Jazz Manouche," Bo Django's sound combines European sophistication, American jazz, and the signature harmonies and emotional intensity of Gypsy music everywhere.

In addition to Gypsy jazz, Bo Django intersperses songs with Latin rhythms, French "musette" waltzes, and other popular and jazz numbers. Unique-sounding Gypsy jazz acoustic guitars create an irresistible sound. Bo Django Guitars's music appeals to people of all ages - from children to seniors. From plaintive ballad melodies to blistering solos, passion and inventiveness are the common threads.

Paul Gruen ~ Guitar

Paul has been playing guitar since he was nine years old, progressing from folk to classical to rock to bluegrass to Django and to jazz in general. He has performed Django's music off and on for thirty years, and playing Gypsy jazz guitar is Paul's greatest passion. He grew up in Los Angeles but lived in Chapel Hill, North Carolina for several years, where he helped found the Europa Jazz Quartet and also performed with members of the Squirrel Nut Zippers. Paul teaches Gypsy jazz, straight-ahead jazz, bluegrass and other styles of guitar playing, as well as banjo and ukulele, at Tall Toad Music in Petaluma and Music X in Santa Rosa. He also builds acoustic guitars.

Ned Ripple ~ Guitar

Ned has been playing guitar for roughly four decades, beginning with the early 60's folk craze and quickly progressing to jazz. Soon after moving to the Bay Area in the early 70's, Ned heard the fantastic music that Django created, discovered "hot jazz" in general and never looked back. Throughout the 70's and 80's he performed in many local well-known clubs with various "jive" vocal, hot-club-infused jazz bands. Ned has also appeared on local radio stations and in a nationally-syndicated film. In addition to being a member of Bo Django, he also performs with his jazz vocal group, On the Air, and with The Hot Club of Marin.