Going stronger than ever The Django Reinhardt NY Festival and The Allstars have taken the US by storm.  They are headed to NY from Paris.  They land at Birdland, their official home, where it all started in 2000, with an ‘idea’ inspired by Producers Ettore Stratta and Pat Philips due to their work with famed Jazz Violinist Stephane Grappelli, Django’s partner, back in the 30’s and 40’s when they took Europe and the world by storm.   The Producers  set out to bring Django’s style out from underground to ‘overground’ and spread the word!  HOT JAZZ is better than ever and here to stay !
 
Legendary gypsy guitarist DORADO SCHMITT , a real Django look alike, (who is also a Violinist and Compser) returns. He first came in 2002 and hasn’t missed a year yet, coming from a gypsy community Forbach, near Germany.  Family members have also been coming, growing up, marrying, having their own children, and becoming virtuosos … we get to see the Schmitt family evolve right on the Birdland stage.  Son, AMATI SCHMITT, who joined the show, was 6 when it all started…now a true gypsy guitar great.  Brother, Samson, who comes in the summer, turned into a major artist and leader.
 
Rooted in gypsy culture The Festival is authentic in ‘heart and soul’, real atmospheric sounds of excitement and romance with rip roaring performances and beautiful melodies telling of love with ‘original music’ that brings Django’s style to today.  
 
They are Joined by accordion whiz LUDOVIC BEIER  who also plays accordina of whom Downbeat Magazine said - “heartwrenching…as great a solo as was heard at Newport (2014)”.  On Violin is  PIERRE BLANCHARD who swings like crazy, a prodigy of Stephane Grappelli.  On bass is Xavier Nikq with Dorado’s cousin, Francko Mehrstein on rhythm Guitar.
 
Each night there is a special Jazz Great as Guest:
              Tues, Nov.   15:  Jorge Continentino/Flute/Sax
                                   16:  Jazzmeia Horn/Vocalist,
                                        (Recent Winner of the Monk  Institute Vocal Competition)
                                   17:  Grace Kelly/Sax  
                                       (Recent Winner of the Hot House Jazz Saxophone Award)            
                                   18 & 19: Edmar Castaneda/Jazz Harp
                                    20:  Joel Frahm, Sax
 
“A CROWD FAVORITE AND TOP CANDIDATE FOR THE HARDEST SWINGING BAND AT THE NEWPORT JAZZ FESTIVAL!”  Allen Morrison, Downbeat Magazine
 
TOUR DATES:
                                     15 – 20:  BIRDLAND
                                     Nov. 22 & 23:  The Dokata, Minn., Minnesota
                                     25 – 27  :  The San Francisco Jazz Festival
                                     29 :   Athenaeum Music and Arts Library
                                      Dec. 3:   Home Concert, Altadena, Calif. (davidnaiditch@charter.net)
                                      8 & 9:   Mizner Park Performing Center, Boca Raton,  Florida
                                      11     The Faena Theater, Faena Hotel, Miami, Florida