MAPLEWOOD, NJ – Guitarist, composer and teacher Stephane Wrembel is pleased to announce Django A Gogo Festival 2021, which will be held Thursday, June 3 through Sunday, June 6 comprising 4 concerts and an intensive 2-day guitar workshop.
More details from www.djangoagogo.com:
This world class event celebrates the music and life of legendary musician and composer Django Reinhardt. The concert repertoire follows the Django canon and veers into reinterpretation, improvisation and interplay between artists from various backgrounds performed at the highest level of musicianship.
Wrembel is a composer, teacher and one of the preeminent guitarists specializing in the Django Reinhardt style; he is most known for his Grammy Award®-winning composition “Bistro Fada” from the Academy Award®-winning Woody Allen movie Midnight In Paris. Since 2001, Wrembel has released over a dozen critically acclaimed albums including a series of recordings in tribute to Reinhardt under the nom de plume, The Django Experiment. Wrembel recently released Django ’Impressionniste, a book of transcriptions of Reinhardt’s preludes for solo guitar. Since 2003, Django A Gogo has brought together some of the finest musicians in the world to celebrate the Sinti guitar style to perform in prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall and The Town Hall.
The first 3 concerts will take place at The Woodland, 60 Woodland Rd, Maplewood, N.J., on Thursday, June 3; Friday, June 4; and Saturday, June 5 at 8:00 p.m. with each show having a different theme and line-up of musicians. The Woodland is a Georgian Revival style mansion that has been a hub for Maplewood’s vibrant cultural and civic life for over eight decades; it is owned and operated by the Township of Maplewood which has dedicated to its use for cultural, educational and recreational activities that reflect the diverse character of this unique community. The shows are open to patrons of all ages. Tickets are $35 per show or $90 for a 3-night pass and may be purchased at djangoagogo.com. Strict safety protocols will be in place and are posted at thewoodlandnj.com. For more information call 973-843-7157.
The line-up for The Woodland is as follows:
Thursday, June 3—From Tarrega to Django: The Art of Guitar
Together Stephane Wrembel and Michael Sheridan will present a repertoire including classical guitar, gypsy swing and French Musette performing pieces by Tarrega, Sor, Albeniz, Sanlucar as well as a collection of Reinhardt’s compositions preludes for solo guitar from on Wrembel’s Django L’mpressioniste.
Friday, June 4—CD Release Show, The Django Experiment VI
The Django Experiment will celebrate the CD release of The Django Experiment VI, which was released digitally in January 2021, by performing the recording in its entirety. In addition to Wrembel, the band includes: Thor Jensen, guitar; Ari Folman-Cohen, bass; Nick Anderson, drums; Daisy Castro, violin; and Nick Driscoll, saxophone/clarinet.
Saturday, June 5—Django New Orleans
This unique show will meld the traditional sounds of New Orleans with the voices of the gypsy jazz guitars with the band performing traditional New Orleans songs with a Reinhardt touch, and traditional Gypsy songs with the New Orleans sounds. From swing to second lines, it will be a magical night of music. In addition to Wrembel, Jensen, and Driscoll, the line-up includes: Joe Correia, tuba; Scott Kettner, drums; David Langlois, washboard; and Mike Davis, trumpet/vocals.
The Woodland will also be the venue for a 2-day guitar workshop with Wrembel, his band members and special guests, with an intensive series focusing on rhythm and improvisation in the style of Reinhardt. It is an opportunity for participants to learn and to perform with the full band. The camp is limited to 2 groups of 10 students. The sessions will be held Saturday, June 5 and Sunday, June 6 from 9:00 AM-12:00 p.m. and 2:00-4:00 p.m. The cost of the workshop is $250 and $300 (includes 3 night concert pass).
Django A Gogo 2021 will conclude with another performance by The Django Experiment at Drom, 85 Avenue A, New York, NY, on Sunday, June 6 at 7:00 p.m. celebrating the CD release of The Django Experiment VI. Drom is a gypsy-themed club in downtown Manhattan hosting a global roster of performers, ranging from jazz & funk to hip-hop. This show is open to all ages. Tickets are $35. Drom is adhering to the guidelines as issued by the N.Y. State Department of Health on April 1, 2021. For more information and to purchase tickets call 212-777-1157 or visit dromnyc.com.
Django A Gogo 2021 is sponsored by Maplewood Division of Arts & Culture, which organizes and facilitates performances and cultural activities throughout the Township of Maplewood, New Jersey. The mission of the Division of Arts & Culture, under the Community Service Department is to foster a creative community of artists and organizations, enhancing the quality of life for residents of Maplewood by ensuring that artistic and cultural experiences are inclusive and accessible to all.
Django A Gogo 2021 is presented with the support of the Cultural Services of the French Embassy in the United States.
For more information:
Stephanewrembel.com
Djangoagogo.com
Thewoodlandnj.com
dromnyc.com
maplewoodartsandculture.org
frenchculture.org
