Caravan Gypsy Swing Ensemble

Genre: Jazz
Secondary Genre: World Madison, Wisconsin USA Contact

(608)217-2758 Caravan Gypsy Swing Ensemble is an instrumental group based out of Madison, Wisconsin. Their primary inspiration is the legendary Gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt. Caravan is also influenced by American swing, traditional Latin, Parisian waltzes, and other jazz sources.

Artist Information

Biography

Caravan Gypsy Swing Ensemble is an instrumental acoustic jazz group based in Madison, Wisconsin. They are primarily influenced by the legendary Gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt. The ensemble also pulls influences from jazz, swing, European folk, traditional Latin, Parisian waltz, and other vintage-jazz sources. Expect a range of tunes from the “Hot Swing" repertoire, originals and standards done in uniquely arranged styles.

The idea for Caravan started in early 2002 when Chris Ruppenthal, the group’s leader and an aspiring jazz guitarist, first heard recordings of Dutch Gypsy jazz guitarist Jimmy Rosenberg who played in the Reinhardt style. Chris soon turned away from the American Bebop style of jazz guitar to follow in the long shadow of Django and was inspired to seek out fellow Gypsy Jazz enthusiasts.

Caravan sprang out of that inspiration as a trio of two guitars, and violin. The trio played a barrage of open mikes and busked at local farmers markets to get their repertoire together. After adding a bassist and clarinetist they began playing coffee houses, clubs, and parties. Soon they were recording, and performing consistently throughout the Midwest.

The group released its first official full length CD “Caravan Gypsy Swing Ensemble” on Hot String Swing Records in 2007. The recording features an expanded band lineup and includes original music, arrangements of Django Reinhardt classics, jazz standards, and Latin tunes. In 2010 the ensemble released their “Live at The Brink Lounge” CD, an inspired concert performance featuring their regular touring lineup. Caravan's recordings have been prominently featured as a bed soundtrack on ABC 27's "Cooking the Casbah” and on Something Special from Wisconsin’s local food YouTube shorts. Their music has also been used in advertisements for RP Pasta and for chocolatier Gail Ambrosius.

Caravan has had substantial experience with live performance throughout the Midwest. They have performed in a broad range of settings including concert halls, festivals, nightclubs, and corporate events. They have had a wide variety of live radio experience including numerous appearances on Wisconsin Public Radio's "Higher Ground with Jonathan Overby." Highlights of Caravan’s festival and concert experience include performances at Madison WI’s Overture Hall, The Sugar Maple Traditional Music Festival, The Isthmus Jazz Festival, The River Front Jazz Fest, and the Summer Sizzle Jazz Festival.

Caravan Gypsy Swing Ensemble has become an experienced, seasoned group with a diverse repertoire, and a unique voice in the Gypsy Jazz genre. They now perform in lineups that range from a two-guitar duo to a six-piece ensemble including clarinet, violin, and drums. Although the music of Django Reinhardt is still at the core of the band they have learned to take Gypsy Jazz music in a broad range of directions.

Featured Performance Experience
Overture Center’s Overture Hall “Musical Memories” – Madison, WI
The Redstone Room – Davenport, IA
"Music at Harry's Place" concert series – Beloit, WI
The Village Theatre at Cherry Hill – Canton, MI
The Windhover Center - Fond du Lac, WI
MMoCA "First Fridays" Concert Series – Madison, WI
"Concerts in the Park" – Menominee, MI
"Jazz at five" Concert Series – Madison, WI
The Verona Area Performing Arts Series - Verona, WI
The White Crow Conservatory – Saginaw, MI
“Wild Rice Concerts” – Menominee, MI
"The Park Theatre Project" Concert Series – Hayward, WI
“Treasures Music” Concert Series – Richland Center, WI


Festival, and Fair Experience:
Riverfront Jazz Festival - Steven's Point, WI
The Sugar Maple Traditional Music Festival – Madison, WI
"Summer Sizzle" Jazz Fest - Milwaukee, WI
The Isthmus Jazz Festival – Madison, WI
International Bayfest - Green Bay, WI
The Midwest Gypsy Swing Festival – Fitchburg, WI
"Jazz In The Park" – Madison, WI
Art Fair Off The Square – Madison, WI
Artstreet - Green Bay, WI
Sun Prairie Sweet Corn Festival – Sun Prairie, WI
WORT 89.9 FM Block Party – Madison, WI
Fair On The Square – Baraboo, WI
Monona Terrace Winter Craft Fair – Madison, WI
Festival of Arts and Flowers – Kenosha, WI
Warner Park’s “Winter Craft Show” and “Springfest” – Madison, WI


Radio/Television Performances:
“Higher Ground” (Wisconsin Public Radio)
“Jonathan and Kitty in the Morning” (WMMM 105.5 FM)
“The Pro Show” (WXXM 92.1 FM)
“Mud Acres” (WORT 89.9 FM)
“Entertainment” (WORT 89.9 FM)
“Arts Live” (JATV 12)


Other Notable Performances:
Overture Center’s The Capitol Theatre "Duck Soup Cinema" – Madison, WI
Wollersheim Winery's Port release – Prairie Du Sac, WI
The Great Taste of the Midwest – Madison, WI
"Stem & Stein" at Waelderhaus – Kohler, WI
“Jumptown” U.W. swing club dances – Madison, WI
Dells River Walk Series – Wisconsin Dells, WI
Sundance 608’s Grand Opening Party – Madison, WI

Instrumentation

Caravan Gypsy Swing Ensemble performs in instrumentations that range from duo to sextet.

THE TRIO
Chris Ruppenthal - Lead/Rhythm Guitar, Bandleader
Ed Fila - Lead/Rhythm Guitar
Kevin Tipple - Upright Bass

AND SOMETIMES WITH FRIENDS...
Greg Smith - Clarinet
Chris Wagoner - Violin/Accordion
Jim Huwe - Percussionist

Discography

01/05 "Repertoire" - Hot String Swing Records HSS1
08/07 "Caravan Gypsy Swing Ensemble" - Hot String Swing Records HSS2
01/10 "Live at The Brink Lounge" - Hot String Swing Records HSS3

Links

Audio

Video

Caravan Gypsy Swing Ensemble - Video Press Kit

CGSE Sinnissippi promo for FAI

Photo Gallery

  • At The Brink Lounge back stage

    Download print quality (high-res) version
  • Caravan GSE trio

    Download print quality (high-res) version
  • "Caravan Gypsy Swing Ensemble" Hot String Swing Records - released Aug. 2007

  • "An Evening At The Brink Lounge" - Hot String Swing Records - Released Jan. 2010

  • Riverfront Jazz Fest - Steven's Point, WI

  • Live at Mother Fool's Coffee House - Madison, WI

  • Musical Memories in Overture Hall - Madison, WI

  • Sinnissippi Band Shell - Rockford, IL

  • Sinnissippi sound check - Rockford, IL

  • Live at The Park Theatre - Hayward, WI

  • Live at The Isthmus Jazz Fest - Madison, WI

  • Verona Area Performing Arts Series - Verona, WI

Press

  • Jonathan Overby [+ Show ]

    "Original, energetic and really talented... great Higher Ground performers... I love their sound!" ...

  • Mary Lou Krase [+ Show ]

    " I have the opportunity to work with many performers throughout our season. Caravan Gypsy Swing Ens...

  • Carolyn White [+ Show ]

    It was a pleasure to present Caravan Gypsy Swing Ensemble as part of our series. The audience appre...

  • Kevin Miller [+ Show ]

    Caravan Gypsy Swing Ensemble(CGSE) transfixed a jazz loving crowd in the Windhover Center for the Ar...

  • Tom Robbins [+ Show ]

    I had very positive feedback from the patrons I talked to. Several of them mentioned to me that the...

  • Jon Hain [+ Show ]

    "In addition to being great to work with Caravan Gypsy Swing Ensemble really knows their stuff. They...

  • Gigi Macasaet [+ Show ]

    "The audience stood up and cheered! That does not happen after every concert so you can feel extra s...

  • Quotes pulled from nationally published CD reviews [+ Show ]

    "Caravan is entirely competent, with Ruppenthal and Fila displaying mastery of Django's virtuosic st...

  • Madison Magazine [+ Show ]

    "Madison has become an epicenter of Gypsy-Swing-Jazz and the Caravan G.S.E. are among our finest pra...

  • Madison, WI local press quotes [+ Show ]

    Caravan Gypsy Swing Ensemble guitarists Chris Ruppenthal and Ed Fila skiffle and swing on the song "...

Setlist

Caravan G.S.E's typical repertoire covers the entire "Gypsy Jazz" genre. They pull from the American Standard Songbook, swing, Latin, Parisian waltz, and other vintage jazz sources to provide sets that are varied in style, speed, and feel. The group can perform up to a four hour performance. Each sets usually ranges from 50 minutes to one hour.

Example Set List

All of me
Swing '03
Bolero Blue
Oh lady be good
Swing guitars
Valse a Titi
Nuages
Honeysuckle Rose
Tango Innominado
Minor Swing
Caravan

Basic Requirements

Calendar

DateTimeVenueCity
May 26, 2012 Saturday 9:30 PM Tempest Oyster Madison, WI, US
Jun 16, 2012 Saturday 2:00 PM Private Function Mt. Horeb, WI, US
Jun 22, 2012 Friday 12:00 AM Holiday Music Motel Sturgeon Bay, WI, US
Jun 23, 2012 Saturday 12:00 AM Private Function Door County, WI, US
Jun 29, 2012 Friday 9:30 PM Tempest Oyster Madison, WI, US
Jun 30, 2012 Saturday 8:00 PM The Brink Lounge Madison, WI, US
Jul 20, 2012 Friday 4:00 PM Savour Green Bay Green Bay, WI, US
Jul 21, 2012 Saturday 11:30 AM "Sizzling Saturdays" Concert Series Milwaukee, WI, US
Jul 25, 2012 Wednesday 7:00 PM Sh*tty Barn Sessions Spring Green, WI, US
Jul 27, 2012 Friday 9:30 PM Tempest Oyster Madison, WI, US
Aug 18, 2012 Saturday 5:00 PM Sun Prairie Corn Fest Sun Prairie, WI, US
Aug 24, 2012 Friday 7:00 PM Oakwood Village Concert Series Madison, WI, US
Aug 25, 2012 Saturday 9:30 PM Tempest Oyster Madison, WI, US
Sep 8, 2012 Saturday 3:00 AM Private Function Madison, WI, US
Sep 29, 2012 Saturday 9:30 PM Tempest Oyster Madison, WI, US
Oct 17, 2012 Wednesday 11:30 AM "Windhover Wednesdays" Concert Series Fond du Lac, WI, US
Nov 10, 2012 Saturday 12:00 AM Charlotte's Web For The Performing Arts Rockford, IL, US
Dec 31, 2012 Monday 7:30 PM Private Function Madison, WI, US
Apr 3, 2013 Wednesday 11:30 AM "Windhover Wednesdays" Concert Series Fond du Lac, WI, US
May 10, 2013 Friday 12:00 AM Sound Ensemble Wisconsin Concert Series Madison, WI, US
May 11, 2013 Saturday 12:00 AM Sound Ensemble Wisconsin Concert Series Madison, WI, US