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| Spirit of Django Reinhardt in the Rose Hall Legendary gypsy guitarist Tchavolo Schmitt, guitar star Dorado Schmitt, virtuoso violinist Florin Niculescu, accordion great Ludovic Beier, Dutch pianist Peter Beets and others will perform in the Spirit Of Django Reinhardt Concert, Rose Hall, NYC, August 1. Django, legendary gypsy guitarist and his music, traces back to the 30's and 40's in Europe/Paris where the legendary gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt teamed with jazz violin virtuoso Stephane Grappelli, and the rest is history. It was the greatest musical partnership in Europe, a "hot swing" form of jazz creating a special sound, swinging and romantic, that to this day mesmerizes the audience with its virtuosity and heartfelt beauty. The Spirit of Django concert will include a cast of legendary players including Tchavolo Schmitt from Strasbourg-France, who falls under the purest tradition of Django Reinhardt to which he is the worthy heir. He crystallizes all that the music represents for Manouches, the simplicity combined with humility, exceptional virtuosity and joy. It is with great anticipation that Tchavolo is arriving. He is the cousin of the 'gypsy star' Dorado Schmitt, leader/guitarist/violinist/composer, who is returning due to 'very popular demand! Dorado, a true Django gypsy disciple, also from the Strasbourg area, is the cousin of Tchavolo. He is joined again by his son, Samson Schmitt who has become the rage of Europe with his dynamic attack of Django's style. Florin Niculescu, internationally acclaimed jazz violinist is a captivating musician, classically trained but linking gypsy tradition to diverse forms of jazz with his outstanding virtuosity also his spiritual affinity with Grappelli. Born in Romania, he comes to us from Paris. Ludovic Beier also returns. He is a brilliant accordionist/composer/producer from Paris now also performing on the "accordina." He swings like mad and breaks your heart with a ballad. Ludovic recently appeared in the very successful Celebration of Toots Thielemans at Carnegie Hall. New to The Spirit of Django Concert this year is young Peter Beets, young top jazz pianist from Holland with a very special talent for the music of Django Reinhardt. Joel Frahm, American jazz saxman joins the program as he has a very special feeling and gift for Django's music. Our very own Brian Torff will be on bass and serve as musical director. Having traveled the world with the great Stephane Grappelli and George Shearing, the musicians are in good hands. Pat Philips & Ettore Stratta are producing The Spirit of Django Reinhardt for the 4th year which has grown out of the Django Reinhardt Festival at Birdland they launched in 2000. A new DVD of The Django Festival at Birdland 2005 is being released in time for the Spirit of Django Concert and will be on sale at the concert as well as online. write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Jazz News :: home page |