The Django Reinhardt Festival

Gypsy Jazz guitar legend Django Reinhardt's unmistakable sound have made him an icon for an unlikely range of luminaries from Carlos Santana to Eric Clapton to Jimi Hendrix to Willie Nelson. What began as a tribute performance at Birdland in 1999 has developed into the annual Django Reinhardt NY Festival. The Django Festival All-Stars have been become a brilliantly cohesive group of musicians who have performed at top concert halls and festivals around the world.

Led by guitarist Samson Schmitt, the oldest son of the Schmitt family of Gypsy jazz musicians from the Lorraine region of France, the group features violinist Pierre Blanchard, accordionist Ludovic Beier, guitarist/vocalist DouDou Cuillerier & bassist Antonio Licusati

“Sensational, standout performance. The hardest swinging band at the Newport Jazz Festival.” (Downbeat Magazine)

“The highpoint of the entire Playboy Festival: The Django Festival Allstars.” (Jazz Scene LA)

HOT JAZZ harkens back to the 30's and 40's in Europe where DJANGO teamed with top Jazz Violinist STEPHANE GRAPPELLI to create The HOT CLUB QUINTETTE of France ...the greatest musical partnership in European history Jazz history. The DJANDO FESTIVAL ALLSTARS follow in their footsteps taking the music beyond with original compositions , hip improvisations and some of Django's lasting greats. This 'hot-swing' form of jazz has its roots in American popular music and in the reverence for Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and other top American jazz figures. They swing like crazy and will break your heart with a ballad. Each of them are composers and while this music can harken back to the great music of the past, their interpretations, arrangements, virtuosity, and original compositions bring a newness to Django's style and take it beyond.

The DJANGO REINHARDT FESTIVAL is going into is in its 22nd successful year with packed houses at its home, the legendary music club BIRDLAND, in New York City-and tours prestigious halls across the country such as Rose HALL/Jazz at Lincoln Center, Disney Hall in LA, The Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, The San Francisco Festival, and many more.　 These world class musicians, who come mostly from France, now called the DJANGO FESTIVAL ALLSTARS, are the best players to come out of the Festival.

The Festival is Produced by Pat Philips, Co-Founded by Ettore Stratta and Pat Phillips

Host or Publisher Birdland Jazz Club