Gypsy jazz troupe the Hot Club of LA, disciples of the great Django Reinhardt, have had a Monday night residency at the Cinema Bar for 15 years now, and they’re not slowing down. Band member James Doyle told the News all about it…
When did you start playing and performing?
Carl Byron: Hot Club of Los Angeles began in 2011 as a gathering of local established sidemen and recording musicians with backgrounds in country, jazz, folk, blues, pop/rock and world music to initially perform the repertoire of Belgian guitar virtuoso Django Reinhardt (1910-1953). Reinhardt pioneered the hybrid genre now known as gypsy jazz, popularizing it with his Quintette du Hot Club de France in 1930s Paris. The band’s current lineup, which includes founders, drummer Jim Doyle and accordionist/pianist Carl Byron, along with bassist Paul Eckman and fretmasters Josh Workman and Jake Bluenote, draws on the widely varied experience and eclectic taste of the members, yielding a unique and modern approach to the storied “Hot Club” sound.
Describe your sound/style?
We’re rooted in the Django Reinhardt tradition, but we’re not trying to recreate the past. We bring our own influences and personalities to the music: swing, jazz, rock and roll, and acoustic string music, with plenty of improvisation and room for the band to follow the music wherever it leads. It’s a welcoming, swinging night—great for bringing a date or enjoying a cold one on your own.
How has the Cinema Bar residency been going?
We’ve been doing the residency at Cinema Bar for 15 years, and it’s become a real home for us. We started the night from scratch and built it into a slamming good time, with tons of great people coming out to support us. It’s also been a wonderful place to develop the band and keep the music alive.
What recorded music is available — particularly the most recent?
Our most recent record, Nova, came out in 2024, and we’re very proud of it. It drew strong numbers on Spotify, earned great reviews, and landed in the Top 50 jazz charts. Songs from the album are still in rotation at KKJZ (KJazz 88.1 FM)Z, and the record captures where the band is right now. We’ve also gathered enough new material to begin recording another album this year.
What can the audience expect over the coming months?
We’ll mix classic Hot Club repertoire with original material and newer songs we’ve been developing. After 15 years, we have a deep songbook, so no two sets are exactly alike. There’s always plenty of improvisation and interaction between the players.
What else do you have coming up?
We’ll continue the Cinema Bar residency, and we frequently play private parties. We also have a special Django birthday celebration coming up on January 23 at The Grape in Ventura. The room sells out quickly, so grab your tickets while you can.
The Hot Club of LA performs at 9 p.m. every Monday at the Cinema Bar. Go to thecinemabar.com for more information about the show.
Elsewhere this week
The Culver Hotel will be hosting the likes of Sylvia & the Rhythm Boys, and Scotty Bramer. Go to culverhotel.com for more info.
Boulevard Music hosts Art Podell at 8 p.m. on Saturday, October 10. Visit boulevardmusic.com for more info.