Antoine Boyer
Winner of
THE 2011 SAGA DJANGOFEST AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING YOUNG MUSICIANSHIP
IN THE GENRE OF GYPSY JAZZ
Antoine Boyer is an amazing young guitar player from France. In fact the 15 year old was selected as the opening act for the 2011 internationally renowned Django Reinhardt Festival in Samois sur Seine, France. As the protégé of the legendary Francis Moerman and Mandino Reinhardt, he and his father Sebastien have released two CDs; the first a tribute and recognition of the music of Francis Moerman, the second exploring a wider repertoire, both albums receiving accolades and critical renown for their beauty and splendid guitar work.
Antoine presents the more poetic aspects of Gypsy Jazz music. He is a superb player regardless of his age, who has taken Moerman’s music and somehow or another managed to make these idiosyncratic tunes all his own, while still keeping close to Moerman’s original sound.
2011 SAGA AWARD Presented In Memory of Drew Bamber
Award History - The idea of creating an award for outstanding young musicians came about in 2005 upon the passing of Dudley Hill, as a way of remembering him and his unique musical gift. The first award winner was not a person, but rather the Langley High School Music Department and the prize was a string bass. The following year, 2006, The Dudley Hill Award went to Annie Staninec and she received a beautiful violin from Saga. The Saga guitar winner in 2007 was Sammo Miltich. In 2008 another beloved member of the DjangoFest family passed away so in his honor we called it the Dudley Hill/Michael Nutt Award and the prize went to fellow violinist Jason Annick. In ’09 and ’10 we didn’t do the prize, but with the passing of our good friend Drew Bamber we felt it was appropriate to resurrect the program. Our friends at Saga have stepped up again with a Gitane Gypsy Jazz modele DG-255 guitar for the very talented young Antoine Boyer and this year it is presented in memory Drew Bamber, Dudley Hill, Michael Nutt and Frances Moerman and all the others that we’ve lost too soon. May they rest assured the music lives on.
Award Future - In the future you will be able to send your favorite gypsy jazz youtube clips to djangofest.com. The top contenders will be presented on line for our mailing list members to vote on. The 2012 winner will then be flown to Djangofest Northwest to perform and receive their award, courtesy of Saga Music.
|
