Mark O'Connor's Hot Swing Hits The Road

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O'Connor To Join Kennedy Center's Grappelli and Reinhardt Tribute Jan. 16

Composer and virtuoso violinist Mark O'Connor has announced the live return of his critically acclaimed band Mark O'Connor's Hot Swing -- O'Connor's tribute to friend and mentor Stephane Grappelli -- with a January tour.

On January 16, Mark O'Connor's Hot Swing will perform as part of the Kennedy Center's 102nd anniversary of the birth of violinist Stephane Grappelli. The concert will close with a rousing finale featuring O'Connor's Hot Swing with his powerhouse duo of guitarists Frank Vignola and Julian Lage, along with French guitarist Dorado Schmitt of the Django Reinhardt Festival. Together, the groups will recreate the 1930's heyday of Reinhardt and Grappelli's Quintet of the Hot Club of France.

The group will then tape a live session of Mountain Stage in Morgantown, WV on January 17.

The Chicago Sun-Times raved that Hot Swing brings "this infectious art form to a new height, both technically and musically." The Chicago Tribune called 'Hot Swing!' "one of the finest discs of his career and one of the greatest jazz violin albums ever," continuing, "[Grappelli] would have blushed with pride."

Mark O'Connor's Hot Swing is just one of many projects for the prolific musician. Most recently, he has developed an innovative school of teaching violin: The O'Connor Violin Method, which focuses on American music and is the first new method of its kind in decades.

Mark O'Connor's Hot Swing also features guitarist Frank Vignola, bassist Gary Mazzaroppi (Lionel Hampton), vocalist Heather Masse (The Wailin Jennys). Guitarist Julian Lage will join the band at the Kennedy Center and Mountain Stage while guitarist Matthew Munisteri will join the tour following those performances.

Mark O'Connor's Hot Swing Tour:

Jan 16 - Washington D.C. - Kennedy Center
Jan 17 - Morgantown, WV - West Virginia University: Creative Arts Center
Jan 18 - Kent OH - The Kent Stage
Jan 20 - Minneapolis, MN - The Dakota Jazz Club
Jan 21 - Columbia, Missouri - Missouri Theatre Center for the Arts
Jan 22 - Fayettville, AK - Starr Theater at Walton Arts Center
Jan 23 - Kansas City, KS - Folly Theater

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