An evening jam session has led Steve Curry on a journey with a band that has a unique sound.
“I was playing more popular styles in L.A. and doing tours,” said Curry, who brings the Texas Gypsies to the Jabez Sanford Hardin Performing Arts Center Saturday. “I wanted to try a new style.”
His search for a new style actually led him to two older styles – Django Jazz and Western Swing. Both musical forms were from the 1920s and 1930s. Django Rheinhardt created a distinct style of jazz guitar playing using only two fingers.
Western swing is a subgenre of country music.
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After studying those two genres, he found some like-minded musicians for one-time jam session. That led to another and another, and the Texas Gypsies were born.
“We had such a good time, and people kept showing up,” he said. “We said – why don’t we become a band.”
Eighteen years later, the group is still jamming.
“The band mixes passionate violin, a blazing horn section, rockin-swingin guitars, slappin upright bass, and retro style drumming to harmoniously create their own unique, classy and fun sound,” according to the band’s website.
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The Texas in the band’s name is a nod to the Western Swing while the Gypsy part pay homage to Gypsy Django, Curry said. Mix in some other tunes from the Great Gatsby era, and the result is the Texas Gypsies. Curry even writes new music with the style.
The band wears attire that brings through those vibes of the 1920s, and sometimes, audience members wear clothing from the era.
The Texas Gypsies has several iterations. For Saturday’s event, the band will feature six musicians including three horn players, he said.
When not playing with the Texas Gypsies, Curry plays with a rockabilly band called the Rockmollys.
The Texas Gypsies will play at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $42.95 and are available online at augustaamusements.com or by calling (706) 726-0366.
The Texas Gypsies’ concert opens the Augusta Amusements’ 2022-2023 season. For other events in the series, visit the website.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the managing editor of The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com
