Pat Philips-Stratta’s Django Reinhardt Festival featuring:

Samson Schmitt/Lead Guitar

Ludovic Beier/Accordion and Accordina

Pierre Blanchard/Violin

Antonio Licusati/ Bass

Michael Joseph/ Rhythm Guitar

Sponsors:

John Pearse Strings

John & Joan D’Addario Foundation

The Row Hotel

Django’s unmistakable cool and jumpin’ jole de vivre have made him an icon for an unlikely range of luminaries from Carlos Santana to Eric Clapton, guitar greats! Jimi Hendrix named his “big band of gypsies” in tribute, and Willie Nelson adopted his influence in “country-swing.”

The Django Festival All-Stars, have grown into a brilliantly cohesive group of star musicians who’ve taken America by storm, performing at top concert halls and festivals to standing ovations.

The music speaks of Paris in the 20s and 30s when “gitane” music filled the air, in the cafés, the streets, in the countryside, a romantic Paris with lovers, campfires, a time of Montmartre, la belle époque, le Boudon café, café au lait, luscious pastry, and a great glass of wine. Django was “king”. He teamed with Jazz Violinist Stephane Grappelli and made musical history.

The Django Festival All-Stars bring this music to ‘today’… combining known standards and original music…intoxicating!! They swing like crazy and will break your heart with a ballad.

Special Guests include:

July 12: Ken Peplowski / Clarinet

July 13: James Carter / Sax

July 14: Edmar Castaneda / Jazz Harp

July 15: John DiMartino / Piano

July 16: Ken Peplowski / Clarinet

July 17: Houston Person / Sax

“Sensational… Standout performance… Hardest swinging band at the Newport Jazz Festival” – Downbeat Magazine

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