Join the club, in Newport

It will be a hot time in the old town when the Oregon Coast’s own Gypsy Jazz quartet, Hot Club of Beachtown, hits the stage at the Newport Performing Arts Center this Friday, Feb. 17.

Gypsy Jazz was originally popularized by guitarist Jean "Django" Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli. The first “Hot Club” was formed by a handful of jazz-loving Parisians in the early 1930s, with the inaugural concert taking place inside a small record store. And while these intoxicating melodies and hypnotic rhythms have been enjoyed worldwide ever since, Gypsy Jazz is experiencing a burgeoning revival, with new hot clubs popping up far and wide.

Hot Club of Beachtown was formed by Jim Kuoni, David Jones, Don Nelson and David Ousele, who have been playing together for about a year. Collectively, they have more than a century of performing under their proverbial belts, with experience in jazz, swing, rock, bluegrass, country and even classical music.

Originally a collaboration between guitarist and vocalist Kuoni and violinist Ousele, the ensemble achieved a much fuller, richer sound with the addition of Nelson on bass, and Jones, a founding member of local jazz band Past Forward, on guitar and vocals. Together, they perform everything from swing-era jazz standards, to Gypsy Jazz classics such as “Minor Swing” and “Nuages,” to modern swing compositions like “Elena's Bossa” and even a few novelty numbers.

The performance begins at 7:30 pm in the intimate David Ogden Stiers Studio Theatre. General admission tickets are $18. The Newport Performing Arts Center is located at 777 W Olive Street. For more information, go to coastarts.org or call 541-265-2787.