Django Reinhardt Festival Celebrates 22nd Anniversary at Birdland this July

The Django Reinhardt All Star Festival will be celebrating its 22nd anniversary at Birdland in NYC from July 12-17, where it has been held since the beginning of the festival.

Django Reinhardt Festival

The Festival celebrates the music of legendary gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt, who teamed up with jazz violinist Stephane Grappelli to create the Quintet of the Hot club de France which went on to become one of the most important jazz partnerships in history. Jimi Hendrix named his “big band of gypsies” in tribute, and Willie Nelson adopted his influence in “country-swing.”

Django Reinhardt.

Described by Downbeat Magazine as “sensational… standout performance… hardest swinging band at the Newport Jazz Festival,” the All Star Band, with top players from Europe combined with America’s great jazz stars, will play swing music as a tribute to Reinhardt.

This year’s All Star Band features French and American artists including Pierre Blanchard, Ludovic Beier, Samson Schmitt, DouDou Cuillerier, Antonio Licusati, and Michael Harris.

Django Reinhardt Festival Schedule

 July 12 -14 @ 7 and 9:30 PM

 July 15 – 17 @ 8:30 and 10:30

July 12 & 16 – Ken Peplowski/Clarinet

July 13 – James Carter/Sax

July 14 –  Edmar Castaneda/Jazz and Harp 

July 15 – John DiMartino/Piano

July 17 –  Houston Person/Sax 

For more information about tickets and the entire tour schedule, go here.

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