About

Pino Noir is a red-hot 'electric' gypsy jazz quartet, led by Los Angeles born guitarist Luca Pino. This fiery troupe revitalizes the atmosphere of underground jazz clubs in 1930's Paris, and blends it with virtuosity and panache.

Their unique and inspired arrangements of music by Django Reinhardt, Edith Piaf, and Duke Ellington bring unbridled swing and style to modern audiences.

Whether one is a nostalgic yearner, swing dancer, or just interested in a thrilling live musical performance, Pino Noir is sure to delight and surprise.

Music

The music we perform is most famously known as Gypsy jazz, or "Jazz Manouche" as it is known in Europe. It was born in Paris, France, in the early 1930's. Pioneered by jazz guitar virtuoso Django Reinhardt, the music is a combination of American Swing and Hot Jazz repertoire, with European Gypsy technique and musical influence.

The bread and butter of what makes Gypsy Jazz what it is, is the acoustic instrumentation. Most notably the acoustic Selmer-style guitar with a violin, or a clarinet/saxophone. Then combine it with acoustic upright bass and a swing drum kit, and you have the hot jazz sound of the Parisian underground circa 1934.

My group performs many hits and romantic standards of the golden age of music, such as "La Foule" and "La Vie en Rose" by Edith Piaf, "Black and Tan Fantasy" by Louis Armstrong, or "Si Tu Vois Ma Mere" by Sidney Bechet. We are most known for playing the lost yet invigorating repertoire of Django Reinhardt's deep catalogue of swinging B-sides.

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