Gypsy Pacific is an acoustic string quartet specializing in 'gypsy jazz', a style first popularized in Europe decades ago by guitarist Django Reinhardt and the Hot Club of France. Gypsy jazz continues to thrive in Europe to this day and is steadily gaining a wider audience throughout the United States. Gypsy Pacific is committed to spreading this music in Hawaii and is exposing more people in this corner of the world to the energetic, unique sound typified by the idiom.
Maui’s first gypsy jazz group was formed in 2002 when guitarist Tom Conway joined forces with violinist Willy Wainwright and bassist Marcus Johnson. The chemistry of the musicians was immediately apparent and later that year rhythm guitarist Phil Benoit came onboard to round out the lineup. In addition to songs from the Django catalog, Gypsy Pacific performs modern classics written by the Rosenberg Trio, Romane, Titi Winterstein and other European masters of the style.
Gypsy Pacific has garnered very positive reviews from Hawaii, the mainland and Europe for its brand of ‘hot’ acoustic jazz which can be heard on Tom Conway’s CD 'Hot Gypsy Nights'. This summer the group performed at the Hawaii International Jazz Festival on Oahu and Maui to enthusiastic audiences. In addition,
They can be seen ‘live’ every Monday night from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. at Mulligan’s on the Blue in Wailea.
