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'Gyspy Jazz Duets' set for Reif stage on March 11

Kliphuis and Grant
Jimmy Grant
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Violinist Tim Kliphuis and guitarist Jimmy Grant will perform Gypsy Jazz Duets in Grand Rapids.

Award-winning violin legend Tim Kliphuis of Holland teams up with America’s rising star on gypsy jazz guitar Jimmy Grant to celebrate the music of famed musical duo, Stéphane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt.

GRAND RAPIDS — Throughout the KAXE listening area on any given night, one might find live music, an art opening, a theater production, or like we learned on the Morning Show, Gypsy Jazz Duets.

Itasca Orchestra Strings Program is presenting Gypsy Jazz Duets with Tim Kliphuis and Jimmy Grant at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 11, at the Reif Center in Grand Rapids. In addition, they’ll host workshops for strings students earlier in the day.

Jesse Davis, Itasca Orchestra String Programs, joined Heidi and Chelsey in conversation with Kliphuis

Gypsy Jazz Duets - KAXE Morning Show - 03/09/23

The performance recreates the 1930s in Paris, drawing inspiration from current-day classical and folk music.

Tim Kliphuis is a master of the violin and a wizard of sound, organizers stated. Using classical, gypsy jazz and folk, he has created a unique style making waves in concert halls across the globe. His recent successes have led to a Sony Classical recording contract and a performance for the Dutch king and queen.

Pedro Oviedo is from Paraguay and has studied in the states for years and he came to Grand Rapids last year to help make sure students are getting a great…

Jimmy Grant grew up with bluegrass, folk, Celtic and classical and soon gravitated towards the music of Django Reinhardt, studying with acclaimed jazz guitarists Jim Nichols and Howard Alden. He cites Bach, Joe Pass and Benny Goodman as his main influences.

Grant has performed with David Grisman and European musicians Ludovic Beier on accordion and Paulus Schäfer, guitarist, as well as the Hot Club of San Francisco. He has performed from coast to coast with Velvet Caravan, a Savannah-based internationally touring group and currently heads his own quartet.

Heidi Holtan is KAXE's Director of Content and Public Affairs where she manages producers and is the local host of Morning Edition from NPR. Heidi is a regional correspondent for WDSE/WRPT's Duluth Public Television’s Almanac North.