Official home page Hot Club of Detroit Agency

A jazz ensemble specializing in the Gypsy jazz sound made famous by guitarist Django Reinhardt, the Hot Club of Detroit was formed in 2001 by Reinhardt disciple and virtuoso guitarist Evan Perri while he was attending Wayne State University. The group quickly became a favorite in area bars and clubs and signed with Mack Avenue Records, releasing the self-titled “Hot Club of Detroit” in 2006 to much acclaim, following it with “Night Town” in 2008. “It's About That Time” which expanded somewhat on the band's Gypsy jazz base to include other strains of jazz appeared in 2010. In 2012, the Hot Club of Detroit returned with “Junction” displaying an electrifying and visionary ensemble that takes the traditions pioneered by Reinhardt and spins them in a way that's both reverent and refreshingly contemporary. Their energetic and unique acoustic-electric sound features Evan Perri on lead guitar, Julien Labro on accordion, Ivan Peña on rhythm guitar and Jordan Schug on bass.

Evan Perri (lead guitar)
Although he claims to have no Gypsy blood in him, Hot Club founder Evan Perri spent nearly six years roaming the campuses of five different colleges in search of the right music program. He studied jazz at Berkelee College of Music, Musictech College in Minneapolis, and Western Michigan before settling in at Wayne State University in Detroit. He is the son of a jazz guitarist, but Evan did not pick up a guitar until age 16 and never heard a Django Reinhardt recording until his twenties. However, while still a fan of greats like Joe Pass, Pat Martino, Wes Montgomery and Kenny Burrell, he vividly remembers hearing Django for the first time and thinking, "This is it. This is what I've been looking for." The HCOD was born out of his desire to recreate the sound he describes as "Parisian Café 1936, but with better sound equipment" in Detroit.

Julien Labro (accordion)
Julien Labro is renowned as one of today’s foremost accordion and bandoneón players, whom critics have deemed to be “a triple threat: brilliant technician, poetic melodist and cunning arranger,” an “A-list star.” Picking up the accordion at the age of 9, French-born Labro graduated from the Marseille Conservatory of Music and has won numerous international competitions.

From early on, Labro was influenced by traditional folk music and the lyrical qualities of the French chanson; and inspired by the freedom and creativity of jazz. As a musician and artist, Labro is constantly evolving and searching for new themes and untried concepts. Since earning advanced degrees in classical music, jazz studies and composition, Labro has continued to explore and embrace new genres of music across various cultures, allowing him to develop an innovative musical
language as a performer and composer that astonishes audiences worldwide.

Labro has been enlisted as a composer and arranger for several professional ensembles. As a soloist, he has appeared with numerous orchestras internationally, including the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Cleveland Pops Orchestra, the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Oman Orchestra, The Qatar Philharmonic , and many more. Touring and collaborating with artists such as saxophonists Miguel Zenón, and James Carter, Lebanese oud master Marcel Khalife, as well as Grammy award winners Cassandra Wilson, João Donato, Fernando Otero, and Jason Vieaux, Labro has performed to critical acclaim in major concert venues throughout North America, Latin America, Europe and the Middle East.

Ivan Peña (rhythm guitar)
Ivan Peña was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma to a family from Peru. He began singing religious and classical music in the Tulsa Boys Choir at age seven under the direction of Gene Roades. After a decade of intense martial arts training, he returned to his first love, music, by picking up the guitar in Booker T. Washington’s high school jazz band under the direction of James Kirk. Since then he has forged a career as a jazz guitarist performing around the United States and Europe. Currently, he works at the University of Oklahoma, where he graduated with a degree in modern languages.

Jordan Schug (bass)
Originally from Southeast Michigan, Jordan Schug studied music at the University of North Texas on scholarship from 2000-2005, studying under Lynn Seaton. He then returned to Michigan and has been continuing his music career here ever since, almost exclusively playing professionally. Aside from playing the double bass Jordan is also a jazz cello player, and for the past 2 years Jordan has played bass in 5ths tuning, following in the footsteps of bassist Red Mitchell. He has performed at the Detroit Jazz festival 5 different years. He has shared the stage with many world class musicians, including Richie Cole, John Clayton, Gerald Clayton, James Carter, The Hot Club of Detroit, Jon Hendricks, Cyrille Aimee, Dwight Adams, Rick Rowe, Andrew Bishop, Laith Al-Saadi, Rob Avsharian and Scott Gwinnell and has lots of experience playing a variety of music. He graduated from the University of Michigan School of Music in 2014 for his graduate degree on scholarship where he studied under Robert Hurst.

Special Guests available

Cyrille Aimée	Cyrille's vocal stylings are synonymous with musical genius. Her culturally rich background has supplied her with the driving force of Dominican rhythm and the incredible swing of the French Gypsies. Taking these natural abilities with her across the world, she has done nothing short of receiving rave reviews and a loyal following in each country she graces with her voice. "We'll Be Together Again" "Que_Reste-t'il"
Larry Coryell	Larry has remained in the pantheon of great jazz guitarists for more than forty years. His personal philosophy of music has kept his playing fresh and exciting and makes each of his personal appearances or recordings a special event. The late 60’s and early 70’s saw Larry as one of the most in-demand guitarists, not only in jazz but in all musical genres. It was during this time that Larry released a series of critically acclaimed albums for Vanguard. In 1974, Larry formed The 11th House, one of the most popular and successful fusion bands of its time. "The Dragon Gate" from "Laid Back & Blues" (mp3)
Howard Alden	"He may be the best of his generation," writes Owen Cordle in JazzTimes. George Kanzler of the Newark Star Ledger proclaims that he is "the most impressive and creative member of a new generation of jazz guitarists." And Chip Deffaa of the New York Post observes that he is "...one of the very finest young guitarists working today." Howard Alden has been a Concord Jazz recording artist since the late '80s where his prolific recorded output as leader, co-leader, and versatile sideman, has captured an artist of consistently astonishing virtuosity and originality.

Downloads

Note: all of the documents, audio and video samples below can be downloaded and used in your publicity by opening the item and then saving to your computer. Or you can copy the link and use the link on your website by right clicking on the link and then selecting "Copy link location".

Current Bio and Reviews
> Hot Club of Detroit Biography 2012 (pdf)
> Review Audiophile "Junction" (2012)

Request PR Materials
Click here to request a printed PR package on Hot Club of Detroit including their latest CD*
Click here to request a digital download copy of Hot Club of Detroit's latest CD*