The annual Django Reinhart New York Festival was held at Birdland in New York City during the week of November 8 – 13^th . The purpose of the Festival is to further the style of music developed by jazz guitarist Django Reinhart. The musicians , under the direction of bassist Brian Torff, are mostly from Europe and are currently touring the United States.

Photo by Andrea Canter

This night, the set started with a solo by Angelo DeBarre on electric guitar. He was soon joined by Brian Torff on bass, Ludovic Beier on accordion and Samson Schmitt on rhythm guitar. The group played a ballad called “Fantasia”. DeBarre played a lyrical first solo, followed by Beier’s accordion. Then DeBarre and Beier traded solos featuring some excellent interplay between the two. The group played an uptempo number (the title of which escaped mention) which featured rousing solos by both DeBarre and Beier.

Photo by Andrea Canter

Lew Tabakin on saxophone joined the group for a rendition of “After You’ve Gone”. This lead into “Rose Room” which featured Dorado Schmitt (Samson’s father) on lead guitar playing incredible runs and making it look easy. An original entitled “Bossa Dorado” was next. The group was joined by Gordon Lane on drums and Pierre Blanchard on violin and Ludovic Beier playing a mouth instrument called an “accordino”, which has a sound somewhere between a harmonica and an accordion. A Django Reinhart original found Dorado Schmitt playing violin along with Blanchard; both contributing two swinging solos. It began to look like musical chairs at this point with everyone switching instruments. Blanchard was on piano and Dorado Schmitt was on violin along with Beir on the accordino. Lew Tabakin stepped in next with a rendition of “What Is This Thing Called Love”. This was followed by guest artist Roger Kellaway at the piano doing a beautiful out of tempo introduction on “Honeysuckle Rose”. This number also featured Samson Schmitt playing a powerful lead guitar solo. “Minor Swing” got Angelo DeBarre back on stage along with David Langlois playing washboard. Everyone was on stage for the finale – a rendition of “Dark Eyes”. Everyone swung on this one.

The appreciative audience in the sold-out room was treated to impassioned performances by -some of the most talented advocates of the Django Reinhart school of jazz – feel good music that brings a smile to the face.