The rockabilly music of Mozzy Dee and the Rhythm City Quartet’s gypsy jazz will be on the bill at Sunday’s Levitt AMP concert in Galva.

Hailing from her hometown of El Paso, “El Chuco”, Texas, Mozzy Dee is representative of her roots. Her Latina heritage, her family, and her passion for every music genre that influenced her as a child is what drives her.

As a child, she grew up watching Judy Garland with her abuelitos on TCM, wanting dearly to sing on Broadway. Her passion filtered into music theater in high school and college at the University of Texas at El Paso, where she took music theater classes and performed in a pedagogy recital. Her dreams continued as she won karaoke competitions and sang in dinner theater plays. 

Finally, she was able to put her words to lyrics and aided by friends of hers – The Shadowmen in Albuquerque, NM- she recorded her first few singles at Hot Damn Records owned by Jeremy McDonald.

As relationships faltered and the group dismantled, Mozzy Dee strived on. Friends of her in the industry that were unwavering in their dedication to helping her succeed – Luke Metz and Eddie Clendening- helped her write her debut album, “Orale!”. A new road of opportunity opened up as it was recorded at Lawless Noise and Vision- the recording studio pitched the album to Rum Bar Records and it was an instant hit! Mozzy Dee became a Rum Bar Records artist!

The album debuted under the label and hit the charts for various independent radio stations around the world- even the UK! Many singles made waves across the airwaves, including airplay on Sirius XM radio on the Underground Garage for DJs Rodney Bingenheimer and Bill Kelly.

Various magazines gave the album rave reviews, including Vintage Rock Magazine:

“New Mexico’s Mozzy Dee lives up to her Vintage Rock- approved Hot Prospect accolade with this impressive nine-track album that delves into affairs of the heart in all its forms. From tales of flirtation to bluesy kiss-offs, Dee is on feisty form, equally at home on heart-tugging mid-tempo numbers as she is on all-out rockers.”

The acoustic jazz ensemble, Rhythm Future Quartet has a straightforward agenda: to keep the spirit of Gypsy jazz alive and expanding in today’s musical universe. 

The virtuosic foursome, named for a Django Reinhardt tune, offers up a newly minted sound, influenced by the classic Hot Club of France, yet wholly contemporary. Founded by violinist Jason Anick, the quartet performs dynamic and lyrical arrangements of both Gypsy jazz standards and original compositions that draw upon diverse international rhythms and musical idioms.

\With Max O’Rourke, Henry Acker, and Greg Loughman rounding out the quartet, Rhythm Future is dedicated to expanding the boundaries of a vital musical genre.

The Fall of 2018 marked the release of their newest album, “Rhythm Future Quartet and Friends”, which features the critically acclaimed singer Cyrille Aimée, Brazil’s top bandolinist Hamilton de Holanda, and world-renowned guitarist Stochelo Rosenberg. 

While maintaining the effervescent lilt, virtuosic musicianship and adventurous musical leanings of their previous recordings, Rhythm Future Quartet and Travels (picked as one of the best jazz albums of 2016 by All About Jazz and the Huffington Post), RFQ and Friends brings vibrant new colors to the mix. JazzTimes Magazine stated, “RFQ and Friends is packed to the gills with feeling and remains consistently dynamic, full of virtuosity and swing.”

With its arresting blend of Hot Club of France styled string jazz, Brazilian and East European idioms, original compositions and hints of classical music, the album marks a significant moment in the growth of a continually evolving ensemble. (And one with continually increasing popularity: the quartet’s version of Django’s “Minor Swing” has over four million views on YouTube, while their video clip of “Bushwick Stomp” from Travels has over three million Facebook views.)

Jason Anick, an award-winning composer and violin professor at the esteemed Berklee College of Music in Boston, has shared the stage with an array of artists including Grammy award winning guitarist John Jorgenson, Stevie Wonder, The Jim Kweskin Jug Band, and Tommy Emmanuel. 

Henry Acker is a young powerhouse jazz guitarist who performs both in the style of Django Reinhardt as well as traditional jazz. A child prodigy who began playing at age 8 and performing professionally at age 9, his talent and abilities have developed into nothing short of astonishing. 

Henry has already shared the stage with jazz greats Bucky Pizzarelli, Frank Vignola, Julian Lage, Bireli Lagrene and Vic Juris. He is a five-time winner of the Downbeat Magazine Student Award for jazz guitar soloist.

Guitarist Max O’Rourke, was the winner of the 2015 Saga Award from DjangoFest Northwest and at 22 has already toured/recorded with many of the top American Gypsy Jazz musicians including John Jorgenson and Gonzalo Bergara. Greg Loughman is a top call bassist in Boston and has been heard with such luminaries as Sheila Jordan, Curtis Fuller and George Garzone.

Rhythm Future Quartet will begin the concert at 6 p.m. Sunday in Galva’s Wiley Park. Those attending should bring lawn chairs.

Food stands will be on hand. Admission to the concert is free.