Gypsy Romantique'
 
   

Gypsy Romantique'is the newest incarnation of Donna's adventures in song writing. Melding the gypsy inspired Paris hot club jazz of the 1930’s and American western swing of the same era, with their Latin influences and a touch of unabashed schmaltz, Gypsy Romantique’ is able to carry you away to the magic of the silver screen when it really was silver and not Technicolor. What you end up with is an entertaining cabaret of music that spans multiple generations. Older people love the music because it reminds them of their youth. Children love the music because it is just plain fun, and those who are in between are swept up in the reverie of gay Paris as they navigate the territory of the heart through Dufresne’s lyrics. Wherever your imagination lands, you are sure to enjoy the eclectic repertoire of these seasoned musicians peppered with instrumental standards such as Dark Eyes, Django Reinhardt’s Swing 42, Daphne, or Noto Swing.

 

Donna Dufresne songwriter/vocalist, rhythm guitar  

Donna Dufresne has been performing on stage as a singer since she made her deb ut at age three at the local Grange Hall. She has continued to study voice and music throughout her life. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Lesley University and a master’s degree in Gifted & Talented Education from the University of Connecticut . Before becoming a certified classroom teacher, Donna began integrating music and storytelling into the curriculum as a teacher and director of an environmental education program. There she wrote and recorded a collection of catchy children’s songs with topics ranging from ecology lessons to global warming. While working toward a degree in history she developed several historical characters which she performs as one-woman shows, including Rachel Carson, Prudence Crandall and an 18 th century farm wife.

Donna continues to use music and storytelling in the classroom in her position as enrichment teacher at Chaplin Elementary School, where she wrote and produced a children’s musical about global warming, Speaker for the Earth. She has recorded four albums including Envirojazz, Extra Ordinary Life, Cowboy Romance, and her latest gypsy jazz & swing album, Tango with the Moon. She performs music from her latest album with the gypsy jazz ensemble, Gypsy Romantique’.
   

Chris Haynes- Accordion

John DeBossu:
Stand-up Bass 		Reuven Dobraminski (a.k.a Bob Davis) Gypsy Guitar

Gypsy Romantique' Quartet

Tim Peck- Pianist and Arrangements