You may not find a sign hanging outside the window or a door to enter when you visit Café Impromptu, but you certainly will hear joyful music and the sound of the audience in applause abounding.
Café Impromptu is a place that invites women, who love the “Hot Club Swing” genre, to play music together. It was founded by Whidbey Island bassist/musician, Kristi O’Donnell, in 2015.
This creation is the result of her attending a late night jam during DjangoFestNW (DFNW) in 2014 in downtown Langley. “I was elated to meet over a dozen women at the jam,” Kristi said. By 2015, she organized the first pop-up Café Impromptu, hosted by Ott & Hunter Winery on First Street, Langley. Participants visiting DFNW in ’15 joined around café tables and street venues all about town.
The concept took hold. By 2016, enough women in the region showed up, via word of mouth invitation and social media. Visiting musicians to the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts (WICA) DFNW also graced us with their appearance, most notably, Christine Tassan et les Imposteures from Quebec.
With the addition of guitarist Jennie Mayer and vocalist/accordionist Adrienne Reed, of the Lulu Swing Band in Seattle, we formed the regional Café Impromptu Band. (2019) Tobi Stone joined us on saxophone. Since then, we have been invited to play music throughout the PNW at festivals, galas, libraries, museums, jazz walks, garden parties and private events.
Café Impromptu has a roster of dozens of musicians: guitar, bass, saxophone, violin and vocals to create a band for your festive occasion: Trio to Octet!
