Biography

For more than 20 years, guitarist and singer Christine Tassan has steered her course with brilliance, confidence, and absolutely contagious energy. One of the rare female soloists in jazz and gypsy jazz guitar, she stands out with a unique touch, a sensitive, melodic playing style, and boundless stage presence. Renowned for her versatility—as a singer, composer, songwriter, director, and producer—she is involved in numerous musical projects in Quebec and on the international scene, both as a bandleader and a sidemusician.

Originally trained in classical guitar, she explored a wide range of styles, studying folk, pop, and jazz, while developing her talent as a singer-songwriter from an early age. Her interest in gypsy jazz, jazz, and improvisation truly began in 1998 when she discovered the music of Django Reinhardt. She honed her skills through masterclasses with renowned musicians such as Angelo Debarre, Emmanuel Kassimo, and Yorgui Loeffler.

In 2003, she founded the gypsy jazz group Christine Tassan et les Imposteures, performing at more than 800 festivals and venues across Quebec, Canada, and internationally (Europe, the United States, China). The quartet has released seven albums, including Entre Félix et Django, which won the Opus Award for Jazz Album of the Year in 2017 and was a finalist for the corresponding show in 2018. Django Belles, released in November 2018, also received enthusiastic acclaim from both audiences and the media. In 2024, the group released Sur la route, an album retracing 20 years of touring and adventures through sweeping landscapes and colorful anecdotes, once again bringing the quartet to stages across Canada, England, and the United States.

In 2020, alongside her work with the Imposteures, Christine transitioned to jazz electric guitar and recorded the album Voyage intérieur with a quintet (piano, double bass, drums, saxophone). This recording features ten instrumental compositions born from an introspective musical exploration. It showcases a hybrid jazz style with strong melodies and varied rhythms ranging from bolero to swing, as well as bossa nova and funk, where the musician’s European influences blend with American swing traditions. The album received nominations at the Opus Awards, Juno Awards, ADISQ, and GAMIQ.

In 2025, Christine collaborated with flutist Marie-Véronique Bourque and co-produced the album Bruissement boréal. Inspired by the natural soundscapes of Quebec and Saskatchewan, where each artist resides, the album is characterized by an eclectic blend of styles reflecting their diverse musical backgrounds, skillfully weaving together natural textures, traditional jazz, blues, Latin music, swing, classical influences, and a touch of rock.

That same year, she also contributed to the album Ceci est un album de guitare, which brings together 17 guitarists from Quebec—including Michel Cusson, Steve Hill, and Jordan Officer—each composing and performing an original piece for the project.

Recognized for her qualities as an educator and communicator, Christine has also been part of the teaching team since 2013 at Django in June, a music camp that brings together more than 200 gypsy jazz enthusiasts each year in Northampton, Massachusetts. She regularly gives lessons and masterclasses in Quebec and internationally.