Django Reinhardt NY Festival

“Celebrating 25 Years”

@ Birdland

November 5-9

Featuring

DORADO SCHMITT and SONS

 SAMSON & AMATI

with LUDOVIC BEIER

Plus Francko Mehrstein and Gino Roman

  DJANGO FESTIVAL ALLSTARS

      “A Gypsy Jazz Festival”

And Tour

Special Guests:

November 5: Bruce Harris / Tumpet

              6: Helio Alves/ Jazz piano

              7: Tatiana Eva-Marie / Vocalist

              8: Ute Lemper / Songstress

              9: Lucy Yeghiazaryan /Vocalist

…“blinding technique, solid entertainment” – NY Times

“The highpoint of the entire Playboy Festival at the Hollywood Bowl was The Django Festival Allstars” – LA Scene

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard better music”- The SUN

Tour Dates:

November 5-9: BIRDLAND

10: Strathmore Performing Arts, Strathmore, MD

13: Unit B by Chocolate Maven, Sante Fe, NM

14: Frank Morgan Taos Festival, Taos, NM

15: Outpost, Alburquerque, NM

16: Kimmel Center for Performing Arts, Phila. PA

20: Bennington Theatre, Bennington, VT

21: Jimmy’s, Portsmouth, NH

22: Saratoga Perf. Arts, Saratoga, NY

23: NJPAC, Newark, NJ

Sponsors

John Pearse Strings

John @ Joan D’Addario Foundation

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‘A Special Performance’

@ DIZZY‘S CLUB

Jazz at Lincoln Center

JULY 11-14

Plus June/July US Summer Tour

Starring:

Samson Schmitt, Ludovic Beier, Pierre Blanchard

Antonio Licusati and Francko Mehrstein

BUY TICKETS

SPONSORS:

John Pearse Strings

The D’Addario Foundation

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Special Guests:
GRACE KELLY/Saxophone
KEN PEPLOWSKI/Clarinet…& more

Produced by Pat Philips Stratta

The Django Reinhardt NY Festival launched in 2000 at Birdland is in it’s 18th year. Out of the Festival came the top players, The Django Festival Allstars, who tour 2X a year and always spend a week at their home in the US, BIRDLAND. On the road, to standing ovations, they play top venues -Hollywood Bowl, San Francisco Jazz Festival, Kennedy Center, Montreal Jazz Festival and much more with original music in the style and Django favorites. This past summer at the Playboy Jazz Festival at the Bowl, critic Scott Yanow wrote “highpoint of the entire festival” !

Dad, DORADO SCHMITT, started performing in NY in 2002 when SAMSON was 21 and AMATI 5, all grown up now and together on the Birdland stage for the first time. It’s a family dynasty of enormous talent that comes from the soul of gypsy life where music is God, joined by virtuoso accordionist LUDOVIC BEIER and Grappelli protégé, PIERRE BLANCHARD, on Violin. They will put you on the edge of your seats with joy, smiles, shock you with their hot #’s and break your heart with a ballad, joined by gypsy cousin, Francko Mehrstein, on rhythm guitar and Gino Roman on Bass.

Special guests include the young great saxist Grace Kelly on Nov. 7, 8, and 11 and top swinging clarinetist Ken Peploski on Nov. 9 and 10. For a change of pace, newcomer Chris Smith will be on drums on Nov. 12th.

The music harkens back to the 30’s and 40’s in France to the Hot Club Quintette of Django and Grappelli, romantic days in ‘ol Paris with swing music in the dance halls and streets while campfires lit up the sky on the outskirts of Paris with gypsy life. Music and family was and still is King ! Hot Jazz has more than survived, is vibrant and causing a sensation all over the country.

The musicians will again be on tour as well (see schedule below) and at their NY home, Birdland Nov. 7-12 before returning home to Paris and gypsy community Forbach, France, near Germany. It’s real, it’s romantic, it’s exciting…let your heart lead the way. The Festival was co-founded by Maestro Ettore Stratta.

DJANGO FESTIVAL ALLSTARS US TOUR
November
3: The DAKOTA, Minneapolis, MN
5: The CABOT THEATRE, Berkeley, MA
6: The KENNEDY CENTER, Washington DC
7-12: BIRDLAND, New York City
15: UBS Atrium Series Mid-Day Concert Series, Weehawken, NJ
17: EQT JAZZ STAGE “Light Up Night’ Celebration, Pittsburgh, PA
18: MANCHESTER CRAFTSMEN’S GUILD, Pittsburgh, PA

Participating sponsors:
AIR FRANCE
RD WRIGHT,INC.
JOHN PEARSE STRINGS
John and Joan D’Addario Foundation
The ROW HOTEL – 44th Street and Eighth Ave.

The post AIR FRANCE Presents DJANGO REINHARDT NY FESTIVAL November 7 – 12 appeared first on Good News!.

Special Guests:
Cyrille Aimee, Bria Skonberg, Joel Frahm,
Jorge Continentino, Borislav Strulev, and more…

‘HOT HOT JAZZ’
A special piece will be performed in tribute to Ettore Stratta
DORADO SCHMITT and his young son AMATI return to the US to tour with ‘5’ concerts at the San Francisco Jazz Festival, The Kennedy Center, NJPAC James Moody Jazz Festival, and more, winding up at their home BIRDLAND November 17-22. Birdland launched the Festival in 2000 , now in its 16th successful year! The Festival has been produced by Pat Philips & Ettore Stratta.

Over the years, a top Jazz band in the style of Django has evolved onstage at Birdland at the Django Reinhardt NY Festival. It carries on the legacy of legendary gypsy guitarist DJANGO REINHARDT in a contemporary style holding on to the joy, hot sounds, and romance of the music inspired by America’s standard repertoire and great musicians such as Duke Ellington, harking back to the 20’s and 30’s in France bringing “Le Hot Jazz” to today where we call it “Hip Hot Jazz”.
AMATI Schmitt was a young boy, 3 years old at the time Dorado started coming to the Festival, now at 19, he is a seasoned player in his own right. DORADO Schmitt, gypsy guitar star and leader, passed on the tradition of Django’s style, as is done in gypsy life from generation to generation, as his Dad did with him teaching guitar and violin. They come from Forbach, France, a gypsy community near Germany where music and family is the center of life.

Over the years, the Producers Pat Philips and Ettore Stratta brought others to the stage joining the Schmitts such as Ludovic Beier , accordionist and accordina musician, and Pierre Blanchard, violinist…DouDou Cuillerier, rhythm guitarist and mean scat singer….henceforth the evolution of this spectacular band many years in the making along with Xavier Nikq on bass (Brian Torff is bassist in the summer). The band is in demand across the country for major tours 2X a year .

There will be a special piece dedicated to the life and tremendous talent and career of Maestro Ettore Stratta, co-founder of the Festival, partner and beloved husband of Pat Philips (Stratta).
***********************
Each night there is a Special Guest as follows:
November 17: Bria Skonberg/trumpet & vocals
18: Anat Cohen
19: Jorge Continentino/flute
20: Joel Frahm/sax
21: Borislav Strulev/cello
22: Cyrille Aimee/vocalist
***********************
About the Django Festival Allstars!-at The Newport Jazz Festival
“A Standout performance” !
Ludovic Beier -“played like an angel, heart wrenching and as good a solo as was heard at Newport” ………. Allen Morrison… Downbeat Magazine

“Best show in town” !…
“No Violinist captures the true romantic fire of Pierre Blanchard
Will Friedwald, Wall Street Journal

Dorado Schmitt – “The elder Schmitt’s virtuosity…on full display…lightening fast fingerwork, powerful strumming, astonishing fast tempos”…….. LA Times

Tour Schedule:
Nov. 5,6,7,8 SAN FRANCISCO JAZZ FESTIVAL
9 KUUMBWA JAZZ CENTER, SANTA CRUZ, CA
10 LOBERO THEATRE, SANTA BARBARA
11 NJPAC James Moody Jazz Festival, NEWARK
13 KENNEDY CENTER, TERRACE THEATRE, WASHINGTON D.C.
14 REGATTA BAR, BOSTON
15 HUDSON PARAMOUNT THEATRE, PEEKSKILL, NY
17- 22 BIRDLAND NYC
BIRDLAND, 315 W 44th Street full dinner menu, parking nearby
Reservations: 212 581 3080 or www.birdlandjazz.com

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AIR FRANCE presents

The DJANGO REINHARDT NY FESTIVAL

‘Celebrating its 15th Anniversary’

featuring

Aug. 5-10 at Birdland

SAMSON SCHMITT, LUDOVIC BEIER, PIERRE BLANCHARD

Special Guests: Olli Soikkelii /Guitar from Finland

Peter Beets/Piano from Holland and more…

+US Jazz Guests:

Joel Frahm, Anat Cohen, Jane Monheit, Edmar Castaneda , Chris Washburne

Nov. 4-9 at Birdland

Dorado Schmitt and “3 sons” AMATI, SAMSON, & BRONSON

          AND MORE….. “From France”!

Plus two major cross-country tours…includes Newport Jazz Festival

HOT HOT JAZZ !

“THE BEST JAZZ SHOW IN TOWN”, ………..

Imagine a stage filled with contemporary  Django Reinhardt descendants and you’ll get a sense that the collective talent pool on the bandstand is larger than the Arc deTriomphe!”

The Wall Street Journal

This summer, August 5-10, The Allstars will be headed  by Samson Schmitt, out on his own, a star in his own right .  For years, he grew up on the Birdland stage, playing side by side with his legendary father gypsy king Dorado Schmitt.

Also featured at will be  virtuoso violinist Pierre Blanchard “who captures the true romantic fire of Grappelli” and Ludovic Beier on Accordion and Accordina who “was breathtaking and beautiful”, says Will Friedwald of the Wall Street Journal.  On rhythm guitar this summer is DouDou Cuillerier who also brings the audience to its feet with his scat singing.  Of the Special Guest jazz pianist Peter Beets, Downbeat says “Straight ahead excellence !  Olli Soikkelii is one of the new young guitar greats.  Brian Torff holds it all together on bass.

Each night there is a top US jazz great! Aug. 5:  Joel Frahm, 6 & 7:  Anat Cohen, 8: Jane Monheit, 9: Edmar Castaneda, 10: Chris Washburne.

Dorado Schmitt will be back in November with all ‘3’ sons, Amati, Samson, and Bronson.  Pierre Blanchard and Ludovic Beier return with Francko Mehrstein on Rhythm Guitar and Xavier Nikq on Bass. Guests TBA.

The Festival, started in 2000, finding there was huge interest in Django’s style of HOT JAZZ.  It has gone on to be a highly anticipated event twice a year, now in its 15th year,  accompanied by major tours – see all info below. .  The AllStar bands emerged out of the Festival which is Produced by Pat Philips & Ettore Stratta.

Django’s inspiration was Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington–sheer virtuosity with exuberant showmanship leaving a crowd breathless as it is with The Django Festival AllStars.  Leonardo DiCaprio has become one of their biggest fans as is George Benson, ..every great jazz guitarist was inspired by Django, Keith Richards B.B.King, to name a few.

The Django Festival AllStars carry on the legacy of the brilliant gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt who was part of one of the most famous musical partnerships in European history with virtuoso Jazz violinist Stephane Grappelli, together they formed the Hot Club Quintette of France.

The AllStars, mostly from France,  bring the audience to their feet with lightning-fast guitar fingerwork on standards such as “Minor Swing” and  also put the crowd in a romantic mood with gorgeous melodies, hit songs of the past such as Django’s “Nuages”. The program includes many new original compositions that take the music beyond.

Django’s inspiration was Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington–sheer virtuosity with exuberant showmanship leaving a crowd breathless as it is with The Django Festival Allstars.  Leonardo DiCaprio has become one of the biggest fans as is George Benson, Woody Allen…every great jazz guitarist was inspired by Django, Keith Richards B.B.King, to name a few.

“Expect Buoyant rhythm, blinding technique, solid entertainment” says Nate Chinen of the NY Times.
DJANGO held it all together like a magnet, as does his descendants, The Django Festival AllStars!

Come to Birdland and celebrate.  The Django Reinhardt NY Festival is about ‘joy’!  We can always use a dose of that!

Summer tour:

July 24, 25: Aspen Colorado Jazz Festival

              26: Musical Instrument Museum, Phoenix

              29: Katherine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, Old Saybrook, Connecticut

              30: Summer Concerts on The Hudson Weehawken, NJ  

August   1: Belleayre Music Belleayre, New York

              2: Regatta Bar, Charles Hotel,   Boston, Massachusetts

               3: NEWPORT JAZZ FESTIVAL’S ’60th Anniversary’, Newport, R.I.

       5 – 10: BIRDLAND, NYC

Fall tour:

October 24: Chicago Symphony Center

                26:  Howard Theatre, Washington DC

                31: Tilles Center for Performing Arts

November 1: Paramount Theatre, Hudson Valley NY

               4-9: BIRDLAND, NYC

          11, 12: Vibrato – LA

         13 – 16: San Francisco Jazz Festival’s new Performing Arts Center-  Minor Auditorium

                17: Kuumbwa Jazz Institute, Santa Cruz-California

The Django Festival is about talent and joy!

Many thanks to the Sponsors:

AIR FRANCE, VERIZON,

RD WRIGHT, INC, JOHN PEARSE STRINGS,

John & Joan D’Addario Foundation

BIRDLAND, 315 w. 44th street ,NYC

212 581 3080   www.birdlandjazz.com

From June 26 through 28, Air France is presenting a unique exhibition at Center 548 (22nd Street & 11th Avenue in Manhattan), which will be open to the public between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.
You will be able to experience the new Air France seats, enjoy interactive activities for kids and adults.

AND you could even win Air France tickets to Paris!

Link copy: All about the Air France Exhibition

URL: http://expo.airfrance.com/en/#!/index

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AIR FRANCE PRESENT

THE DJANGO REINHARDT

NY FESTIVAL

Django Festival Allstars

Featuring Gypsy Guitar Legend DORADO SCHMITT

+  Ludovic Beier, Pierre Blanchard,

Francko Mehrstein, Amati & Bronson Schmitt  from France

and Brian Torff

Returning to Birdland !

Celebrating their new CD!

Plus Jazz Guests:  Cyrille Aimee, Freddy Cole

James Carter, Edmar Castaneda

The DJANGO REINHARDT FESTIVAL carries on the legacy of legendary gypsy guitarist DJANGO REINHARDT, but with some new songs and interpretations keeping it fresh, exciting, cutting-edge… true to the HOT JAZZ, ROMANTIC, style which has exploded across the US. It all started at Birdland in 2000 with the launching of the Festival and  tours at prestigious venues such as  Kennedy Center, Disney Hall in LA, The San Francisco Festival.. The Django Festival is Produced by Pat Philips & Ettore Stratta.

DORADO SCHMITT, legendary Manouche gypsy guitarist from the Strasbourg region of France, a Django look- alike with pencil thin mustache, returns to Birdland to adoring fans. Schmitt started coming to the US in 2002 and has been a star attraction at major festivals and at Birdland in NY, home of the Django Reinhardt NY Festival.  He will be joined by  other gifted musicians who also appear regularly: Virtuosos LUDOVIC BEIER on Accordion & Accordina, PIERRE BLANCHARD on Violin  with FRANCKO  MEHRSTEIN on Rhythm Guitar, from France and  BRIAN TORFF on Bass and as Host, plus Dorado’s young sons Amati and Bronson Schmitt.

Joining them will be talented Jazz Guests each night:

Nov. 5 & 6:  CYRILLE AIMEE – French Jazz Vocalist

Nov. 7:  FREDDY COLE – US Vocal legend

Nov. 8 & 9:    EDMAR CASTANEDA– Colombian jazz harpist

Nov. 10:   JAMES CARTER – Sax great

—

Excitement continues at Birdland with the  Django Reinhardt NY Festival going into its 14th year celebrating their new CD ,  The Django Festival Allstars on Three’s a Crowd Records, available at Amazon and Itunes.  The CD is being played around the country and receiving rave critical reviews.

HOT JAZZ at its best celebrating the new CD, a result of 14 years of musical love and talent on the Birdland stage.

 The Allstars will be on tour as follows:

Oct. 25, 26, 27:  The San Francisco Festival  SFJAZZ Festival – sfjazz.org

Oct. 31:  Regatta Bar -Charles Hotel Boston,

Nov. 2:  Kennedy Center, Wash. DC.,

Nov. 5-10:  Birdland, NYC

Special thanks to:  AIR FRANCE

Sponsors:  VERIZON,  RD WRIGHT, INC., JOHN PEARSE STRINGS,

The JOAN AND JOHN D’ADDARIO FOUNDATION.

Birdland

315 West 44th Street

NYC

between 8th and 9th Avenues on the west side of midtown Manhattan.

For phone reservations & information, please call (212) 581-3080.

Discount Parking Garages on 44th street. (Edison Parking 330 West 44th Street, just east of 9th Avenue)

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