Nuages, a modern jazz Manouche ensemble
Inspired by Django Reinhardt, Nuages blends Manouche jazz with traditional American jazz, Brazilian samba, Argentinian tango, French chanson, and other incredible global sounds. Listeners are treated to a warm and engaging journey of high-level musicianship with a range of artistic expression.
Nuages has enjoyed over a decade of performance and recording. They have performed twice at the Djangofest Northwest Festival, as well as several concerts and events throughout Northwest Washington. Nuages also hosted the Manouche N.W. concert series for several seasons in Bellingham, their home town. They would open each show for guests like Pearl Django, Les Imposteures, Tim Kliphuis and Jimmy Grant, Hot Club of Troy, Ranger and the Re-Arrangers, Greg Ruby and more.
A Fork in the Toaster Album
About the Band
Michael-Paul Gurule leads the ensemble evoking sounds from French singers reminiscent of the mid-century Parisian chanteurs and the American jazz saxophone tradition. Nick Sokol is our fine mandolin and tenor saxophonist. He brings several traditions from Americana to modern jazz into the jazz Manouche tradition. On guitar is Marceline Keene. Marceline brings a melodic approach to improvisation, and adds color to the driving pulse, with a bit of Jim Hall through a Django filter. And on the bass is Sarah Yates, melding our musical circle. Sarah combines the mid-century jazz bass style with the inspiration of Django and Hildegard von Bingen. Her bass style, especially her improvisations, are both musically intriguing and poetic in nature.
Discography
A Django-influenced world jazz concept, Nuages’ full discography.
Fork in the Toaster
A melange of Manouche jazz, bluegrass, and hardbop. Our newest release featuring several originals by Nuages.
Pure Imagination
The album that started the journey.
Oblivion
A relaxing selection of songs inspired by absinthe.
Neuf
Jazz and world music all in one.