The Boîte presents Langue de Chat (Musette Ensemble)

There’s something about the melodic, breathy tones of the accordion that transports the listener to another place or time. Maybe a bal-musette in Paris, a youthful romance in Rome, a distant memory of a Melbourne dancehall or a railway station in Berlin. This is where Langue de Chat with chanteuse voice, cajoling guitar, earthy double bass and of course, piano accordion lie in wait in the misty shadows of a distant, tender memory.

An unanswered question…

Get a glimpse of their music here.

Langue de Chat is:

Anthony Schulz – Piano Accordion
An individual voice in Australian contemporary music, Anthony Schulz has developed a sound world that strives to dispel preconceptions of the piano accordion. It is through a lens of seemingly disparate musical forms that Anthony continues to focus his ongoing exploration and presentation of the accordion as an instrument capable of nuance and complexity. Projects including the internationally renowned Aria award winning world music ensemble Zulya and the Children of the Underground, The Bach Project with Rachel Scott (cello), Ball Hanlon Schulz (Eugene Ball – trumpet and Ben Hanlon – double bass), and the French Musette Ensemble Langue de Chat, all form part of the rich tapestry that is Anthony’s sound world.

Kaira Hachefa – Voice
Kaira Hachefa is a Naarm/Melbourne based and French-born performing artist, puppeteer, singer, Butoh dancer and theatre maker. In 2009, she created Compagnie articulate, a puppet theatre company and in 2016, after having toured schools for many years, Kaira’s focus shifted to Butoh and puppetry combined performances for broader audiences.

Kaira has performed nationally and internationally at festivals such as the renowned Festival de la Marionette in Charleville-Mézières in France. She’s performed across Asia, USA, and Europe, solo or as part of ensembles. In Australia, she has performed with numerous collectives and companies, including the Victorian Opera, Blackhole Theatre, Barking Spider Visual Theatre, and the Environmental Performance Authority.

Jack Pantazis – Guitar
Jack is one of a rare breed; an in-demand professional musician for the past 40 years and a much sought after educator with over 30 years experience. It’s very difficult to find musicians who are able to comfortably fit the dual rolls of performance and education and maintain both success and love for the two sides of the same coin. Jack does this with integrity and boundless energy.

Jack's consummate playing skills have led to performances with ensembles that include The Daryl McKenzie Jazz Orchestra , and the Grammy nominated Tim Davies Big Band, to smaller outfits such as his own groups The Jack Pantazis Group, Synchronicity, and the Wes Montgomery tribute group, as well as backing artists such as Mike Stern (ex-Miles Davis guitarist), Bill Watrous and James Morrison.

Anton Schulz – Double Bass
Hailing from Melbourne, Anton Schulz is creating a stir as the up and coming double bassist to catch at top jazz clubs around the country. Anton relocated to Mount Gambier in South Australia in 2019 to complete a Bachelor of Music under the tutelage of some of Australia’s finest jazz musicians. Anton’s trajectory has continued since his return to his hometown as reflected by performances with musicians including Tony Gould, Carl Mackey, Julien Wilson and Scott Tinkler.

In 2022 Anton had the honor of performing Toshi's Clinch's production of Duke Ellington's Sacred Concerts at St Pauls Cathedral featuring Michelle Nicole. Anton continues to explore and develop a personal approach to the double bass by performing across a variety of genres - from jazz and contemporary to Klezmer and French Musette.