Pistache

4+ (group) performers

Indoor and outdoor

Band

1,5 hour

NL, EN

Fancy an evening full of swing, sparkling solos and creamy harmonies? Pistache serves it all! Just like our namesake – the pistachio nut – our music is rich, a little surprising and addictively delicious.

Straight from the heart of Amsterdam, Pistache brings the timeless energy of gypsy jazz to life with infectious swing, sparkling improvisations and rich polyphonic harmonies. This fiery quartet-with Tessa Spaaij on guitar, Sarah Blake on double bass, Jo Gardner on violin and Francesca Vencken on vocals-mixes the gypsy jazz tradition of Django Reinhardt with their own fresh and playful touch.

Rooted in the classic manouche sound, Pistache provides energetic performances that fit perfectly at festivals, jazz clubs or during intimate soirées.

Pistache can be booked in various configurations. From duo to quartet.

About the musicians:

Joanna Gardner:
Joanna Gardner is a British violinist specializing in gypsy jazz, a style of music she studied in the Netherlands. She is known for her performances in and around Amsterdam, where she brings the swing jazz style to life with various bands. Joanna's violin playing, which is both technically proficient and emotionally expressive, makes her a notable figure in the Dutch music scene, where she passionately carries on the traditions of gypsy jazz.

Tessa Spaaij:
Tessa Spaaij is a talented gypsy guitarist whose playing is deeply rooted in the rich traditions of gypsy jazz. With her virtuoso technique and expressive style, she manages to enchant audiences both in the Netherlands and abroad. Tessa's passion for gypsy jazz is reflected in her performances, bringing to life the authentic sound and spirit of this style of music. As a guitarist, she is a welcome guest on various music stages, where her playing appeals not only to lovers of gypsy jazz, but also to a wider audience.

Francesca Vencken:
Francesca Vencken grew up between the Netherlands and France, with Paris as one of her home bases. Thanks to her French stepfather, she was introduced to jazz and the uplifting sounds of gypsy jazz at an early age. Yet she only really found her voice within this genre when she participated in gypsy jazz jam sessions in Amsterdam.

During one of these sessions she met guitarist Tessa Spaaij, with whom she played a lot in the following years. In 2024 Francesca and Tessa decided, together with a group of friends, to start their own band. After all, what could be better than making music with your friends?

With her warm voice and infectious passion for gypsy jazz, Francesca brings the magic of this timeless genre to life.

Sarah Blake:
Sarah Blake is a double bassist, vocalist and guitarist from South Africa, who has been residing in Amsterdam for some time. She traveled all over the world and gained a wealth of musical experiences on her travels. She studied double bass in South Africa at the conservatory and was a long time apprentice of Hein van de Geijn. In Amsterdam she met Tessa at a jam session and there was an immediate musical and personal connection. Sarah warm voice and smooth bass lines are an important foundation in the sound of Pistache.

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