8½ Souvenirs
Encyclopedia
8½ Souvenirs was an American
swing jazz band active from approximately 1993 to 2000
and based in Austin
, Texas
.
The band was signed to the RCA Victor
label and had two releases under that label, as well as two other releases under Austin, Texas indie labels.
The band was named in tribute to the Federico Fellini
film 8½
and the Django Reinhardt
song "Souvenirs." The band was instrumental in Austin's 1990s Swing Revival
dance scene centered at the Continental Club. The band was notable for its Django Reinhardt
, gypsy jazz
and other European influences.
The band met with limited commercial success although it was featured on Austin City Limits
broadcast in April, 1998..
Their version of Django Reinhardt
and Stéphane Grappelli
's "Minor Swing" is featured in the motion picture Julie and Julia.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
swing jazz band active from approximately 1993 to 2000
and based in Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
The band was signed to the RCA Victor
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
label and had two releases under that label, as well as two other releases under Austin, Texas indie labels.
The band was named in tribute to the Federico Fellini
Federico Fellini
Federico Fellini, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI , was an Italian film director and scriptwriter. Known for a distinct style that blends fantasy and baroque images, he is considered one of the most influential and widely revered filmmakers of the 20th century...
film 8½
8½
8½ is a 1963 Italian fantasy film directed by Federico Fellini. Co-scripted by Fellini, Tullio Pinelli, Ennio Flaiano, and Brunello Rondi, it stars Marcello Mastroianni as Guido Anselmi, a famous Italian film director...
and the Django Reinhardt
Django Reinhardt
Django Reinhardt was a pioneering virtuoso jazz guitarist and composer who invented an entirely new style of jazz guitar technique that has since become a living musical tradition within French gypsy culture...
song "Souvenirs." The band was instrumental in Austin's 1990s Swing Revival
Swing Revival
The Swing Revival was a late 1990s and early 2000s period of renewed popular interest in swing and jump blues music and dance from the 1930s and 1940s as exemplified by Louis Prima, often mixed with a more contemporary rock, rockabilly or ska sound, known also as neo-swing or retro...
dance scene centered at the Continental Club. The band was notable for its Django Reinhardt
Django Reinhardt
Django Reinhardt was a pioneering virtuoso jazz guitarist and composer who invented an entirely new style of jazz guitar technique that has since become a living musical tradition within French gypsy culture...
, gypsy jazz
Gypsy jazz
Gypsy jazz is an idiom often said to have been started by guitarist Jean "Django" Reinhardt in the 1930s. Because its origins are largely in France it is often called by the French name, "Jazz manouche," or alternatively, "manouche jazz," even in English language sources...
and other European influences.
The band met with limited commercial success although it was featured on Austin City Limits
Austin City Limits
Austin City Limits is an American public television music program recorded live in Austin, Texas by Public Broadcasting Service Public television member station KLRU, and broadcast on many PBS stations around the United States...
broadcast in April, 1998..
Personnel
The band lineup evolved over the years. During different periods, the personnel included:- Olivier Giraud (guitar, vocals) The founder and key member of the Souvenirs. Now a member of the band Continental Graffiti.
- Tony Balbineau (vocals, rhythm guitar)
- Todd Wulfmeyer (bass)
- Kathy Kiser (vocals)
- Glover Gill (piano)
- Adam Berlin (drums)
- Juliana Sheffield (vocals)
- Kevin Smith (bass)
- Justin Sherburn (piano)
- Rob Kidd (drums)
- Chrysta Bell (vocals)
Discography
- Happy Feet (1995 - RCA VictorRCA RecordsRCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
) - Souvonica (1997 - Continental Club music )
- Twisted Desire (1999 - RCA VictorRCA RecordsRCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
) - Live Memories (2000 - Giraudo Records)
Their version of Django Reinhardt
Django Reinhardt
Django Reinhardt was a pioneering virtuoso jazz guitarist and composer who invented an entirely new style of jazz guitar technique that has since become a living musical tradition within French gypsy culture...
and Stéphane Grappelli
Stéphane Grappelli
Stéphane Grappelli was a French jazz violinist who founded the Quintette du Hot Club de France with guitarist Django Reinhardt in 1934. It was one of the first all-string jazz bands....
's "Minor Swing" is featured in the motion picture Julie and Julia.