An Evening with Django

Description

This week’s performance showcases perennial Jazz Club favourite Sandy Cameron along with with familiar musical friends for an evening of gypsy jazz arrangements inspired by the great European jazz master, Django Reinhardt. An Evening with Django features Sandy on clarinet, Jake Verburg, Steph Clifford, and Jordan Dick on guitars, along with Dan Smith on bass and special guest, the exceptional Stefan Thordarson, on violin.

Django Reinhardt is known for his distinctly European brand of jazz that flourished in during the 1930's. The uniquely rhythmic style is often referred to as Gypsy Jazz, referencing Reinhardt's Romani background. Reinhardt's signature improvisational guitar styling was complimented by a drummerless string ensemble and an often driving rhythmic pulse.

Together with violinist Stéphane Grappelli, Reinhardt founded the Quintette du Hot Club de France in 1934 establishing them as leaders in the European jazz renaissance. Django's famous composition, Nuages, even became an alternate song of rebellion by the French resistance during World War II. Music historian Ted Gioia notes that "among the citizenry, jazz stood as the antithesis of repressive rules" during the totalitarian regimes of the time.

Reinhardt and Grappelli were embraced by African-American jazz greats, including the Modern Jazz Quartet's pianist, John Lewis, who became a great friend of the guitarist. Lewis famously penned the standard titled "Django", written as a tribute to Reinhardt after his death in 1953.