One Leg Up - Jazz Band Charlotte

One Leg Up from Asheville, NC, plays a vibrant mixture of upbeat Gypsy Jazz, Latin, Swing and Original Jazz Compositions that has made them favorites of club, concert, and festival stages throughout the southeast US.

Performing together scince 2003, One Leg Up--- John Stineman(Guitar, Vocals), Jim Tanner(Guitar), Mike Guzalak(clarinet, Sax, Vocals), Zack Page(Bass), and Steve Trismen(Violin, Vocals) formed as a "String Swing" band in the style of famed French gypsy guitarist Django Rheinhardt and immediately won acclaim for their "hot club" prowess, being tapped to back up award winning Spanish Gypsy guitarist Pere Soto on his 2005 US tour. One Leg Up was also honored to do a concert/book show that same year with Michael Dregni; author of Django: the Life and Music of a Gypsy Legend . These great shows were won on the strength of their excellent self-produced debut CD, "Gypsy Blue"

Over the years, One Leg Up has become more than just a Django band, as you can hear on their 2nd and latest CD, "Pere LaChaise". Here One Leg Up breathes new life and verve into the 30s-40s French Gypsy Jazz tradition with fresh arrangements of Django classics, vocal harmonies, original compositions, and innovative adaptations of classic jazz pieces to the French "hot club" and American "big band" styles. It's a music mix that's danceable and accessible---and it always swings! One Leg Up continues to attract a growing, enthusiastic fan base of music lovers and dancers to their entertaining shows.

"One Leg Up is a ticket back in time to 1930s Paris and the glory years of Django Reinhardt. Listening to their music, you can taste the red wine, relish the glamour of the City of Lights, and feel the deep vibe of Gypsy jazz. Vas-y! Vas-y!"

Michael Dregni, author of Django: the Life and Music of a Gypsy Legend.

"One Leg Up's originality also stems from the group being "collective stars". Like an astute big band, One Leg Up's musicians are equally luminescent. At any moment a violin, guitar or clarinet would take center stage, creating a stir....Also, the twin guitars of John Stineman and Jim Tanner revamped those bygone Django chords first strummed in pre-WWII Parisian clubs. And they can sing!...Gutarist John Stineman delicately rendered the ode of patient love "Exactly Like You". My only complaint was having to leave.