After standing ovations and rave reviews at The Newport Jazz Festival, The Django Festival Allstars return from Paris for two major tours and a week at their home, BIRDLAND on June 23 – 27 headed by lead guitarist, Samson Schmitt, gypsy from Forbach, France, son of the legendary Dorado Schmitt who will return to Birdland and for the 2nd tour in November.
Joining is Pierre Blanchard on Violin, a prodigy of Grappelli who is a sensation, and DouDou Cuillerier, monster rhythm guitarist and scat singer. Brian Torff, who traveled the world on bass with Stephane Grappelli, holds it all together. The Django Reinhardt NY Festival fired up a resurgence of ‘HOT JAZZ’ in the US created by the great gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt teamed with Jazz Violin virtuoso Stephane Grappelli in the 30’s and 40’S in France.
Each night, there is a Special Jazz Guest who sits in with the band, creating a new excitement.
The tour in November will be headed by legendary guitarist/violinist Dorado Schmitt joined by his young son, Amati, now 19, and once again by Ludovic Beier and Pierre Blanchard with French gypsy Francko Mehrstein on Rhythm and Xavier Nikq on Bass, all part of the Django Festival Allstars , the great players specially recognized by the public during the Festivals. The music is in the tradition of Django but taking it beyond - hip and hot!
November tour:
Nov. 5, 6, 7, 8: San Francisco Jazz Festival 13: Kennedy Center Terrace Theatre
9: Kuumbwa Jazz Center/ Santa Cruz 14: Regatta Bar/Boston
10: Lobero Theatre, Santa Barbara 15: Paramount Theatre/ Peekskill
Special Guest: Roger Kellaway 17: 22 BIRDLAND
11: NJPAC/ Newark, NJ
