Franglais

Franglais was conceived in 2004 when Ben Wood and Eve Seltzer were on their honeymoon at the Django Reinhardt Festival in Samois-sur-Seine, France. During their time there, they met Sinti rhythm guitarist Titi Bamberger, who offered a pivotal piece of advice: rather than trying to imitate Sinti musicians, they should bring their own American roots and musical identity to Gypsy Jazz. That philosophy became the foundation of Franglais’ distinctive approach—honoring tradition while creating something personal and fresh.

The current lineup features Eve Seltzer on vocals, Ben Wood on rhythm guitar, and Justin Lees on lead guitar. Together, they combine intricate rhythms, expressive vocals, and dynamic improvisation to create a sound that bridges European Gypsy Jazz and American jazz traditions.

“They are almost like a musical taffy-pulling machine, going in unexpected directions while always coming together as a unified event.”
— Greg Victor, Music Journalist, parcbench.live

Franglais’ musicians bring extensive experience and deep study to their performances. Ben Wood holds a Jazz Guitar Performance degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, an Artist Diploma from Berklee College of Music, and studied Gypsy Jazz guitar with Stéphane Wrembel. He is also featured on Ernesto Laurens’ recording On My Gypsy Way, alongside internationally recognized artists including Biréli Lagrène, Stochelo & Moses Rosenberg, Paulus Schäfer, Adrien Moignard, Taulant Memeti, and Josh Kaye. Justin Lees studied Jazz Guitar at Howard University, while Eve Seltzer holds a Master of Music from the Aaron Copland School of Music and has studied with Barry Harris, Miles Griffith, Marion Cowings, and Charanee Wade.

“Seltzer’s pipes are superb, and along with Wood’s inimitable playing, they turn in a bluesy, jazzy, optimistic body of work that will be relevant for decades to come.”
— Take Effect, Jazz Blog

At the heart of Franglais’ music is connection. The group’s performances are designed to create a shared celebration between musicians and audiences—bringing people together through rhythm, improvisation, and the joy of live music.

“A bright and lively performance.”
— Michael Doherty, Music Blogger

Franglais is currently touring in support of their upcoming third album, Ballads and Baubles, scheduled for release in the fall, with performances planned in New York, Washington, DC, and St. Louis, MO.