Description
Join internationally acclaimed guitarist Stéphane Wrembel—hailed by The New York Times as “perhaps the most creative improviser in Gypsy jazz today”—for a thrilling tribute to the legendary Django Reinhardt. Featuring an exciting lineup of world-class musicians and surprise guests, each evening offers a unique program blending virtuosic artistry with deep reverence for Reinhardt’s legacy, with Wrembel leading these joyous celebrations of unforgettable music.
Friday, May 15
Two Sets – One Evening of Musical Exploration
The Django a Gogo Festival begins with a special evening that highlights both the richness of Gypsy jazz and its dialogue with other musical traditions.
The first set will bring together guitarist and composer Stéphane Wrembel with his band, joined by three remarkable musicians. Gismo Graf, from Stuttgart, Germany, is widely recognized as one of the most brilliant young guitarists to emerge in the tradition, blending dazzling technique with lyricism well beyond his years. French guitarist Sébastien Felix is admired for his fluid phrasing and elegant swing, making him a sought-after voice in the European Gypsy jazz scene. On vocals, David Gastine brings warmth and authenticity, his singing deeply rooted in the chanson tradition that often intertwined with Django’s world. Together, they create a sound that is both joyful and intimate, carrying the Reinhardt legacy forward with freshness and respect.
The second set introduces Django New Orleans, Wrembel’s project that bridges Reinhardt’s legacy with the rhythms and colors of New Orleans jazz. The ensemble will perform selections from the recently released album Django New Orleans 2, featuring internationally acclaimed pianist Jean-Michel Pilc, whose improvisational freedom and harmonic depth add a powerful new dimension to the dialogue between European and American jazz traditions.
Throughout the evening, the legendary Angelo Debarre — one of the greatest living masters of Gypsy jazz — will appear as a guest. His presence, marked by brilliance, energy, and decades of artistry, ties the program directly to the lineage of Django Reinhardt himself.
This concert offers audiences a chance to experience Django’s music not only as a historical tradition, but as a living art form that continues to evolve and inspire.
Saturday, May 16
Two Sets – A Celebration of Gypsy Jazz and Beyond
The second night of Django a Gogo 2026 offers a program that both honors the Gypsy guitar tradition and expands it into new territories.
The first set presents the Gypsy Guitar Trio, featuring Angelo Debarre, Sébastien Felix, and Gismo Graf. This extraordinary meeting of three generations of Gypsy guitar masters is making its debut appearance in America, celebrating the release of their new album Gypsy Guitars 2. Each guitarist brings his own voice: Debarre’s unmatched authority and experience, Felix’s refined swing and lyricism, and Graf’s youthful brilliance and modern energy. Together, they create a dialogue that embodies the vitality and continuity of Django Reinhardt’s musical legacy.
The second set introduces Django New Orleans, a project by Stéphane Wrembel that bridges Reinhardt’s world with the spirit of New Orleans. For this performance, Wrembel is joined by Gismo Graf, Sébastien Felix, and vocalist David Gastine, with the internationally acclaimed pianist Jean-Michel Pilc bringing his improvisational depth and freedom to the ensemble. The group performs selections from the recent album Django New Orleans 2, offering audiences a chance to hear Django’s influence reshaped through the lens of New Orleans rhythm, blues, and swing.
Theatre
Peter Jay Sharp Theatre
