The return of one of the most exciting and innovative musical events in Mill Valley is almost upon us.
DjangoFest, the longstanding event inspired by the late gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt, returns to the Throckmorton Theatre Sept. 26-28, featuring a number of performances, concerts, workshops and parties.
Throckmorton Theatre announces their 20th annual Django Fest celebrating gypsy jazz and the musical legacy of DJANGO REINHARDT. They present some of the biggest names and brightest stars of the genre and this year continues that tradition.
The stellar lineup features renowned musicians including Robin Nolan with Special Guest, John Jorgensen, Sam Farthing, Mads Tolling and Simon Planting!
Join them along with other Gypsy Jazz fans, players and enthusiasts for three days of concerts, workshops and impromptu “Djam” sessions. The three day festival includes concerts, workshops and a last-night “Djam” featuring many of the participating gypsy jazz artists.
“Since 2004 Artists from all over the world have joined us for spectacular concerts and inspiring jams – sharing their stories and laughter and hearing ours,” says Throckmorton founder Lucy Mercer. “None of it would be possible without you. Months before the festival, the planning and preparations, financial investment of substantial, upfront expenses such as artist visas, airline tickets, accommodations and thoughtful curating. Sponsorship support at this critical time is vital. Please consider sharing your love of the music by making a contribution toward its success this year.” SPONSOR INFO
DjangoFest, which regularly attracts legions of fans of the “hot” jazz sound Reinhardt pioneered as well as guitarists from all over the Bay Area, has long been one of the landmark local venue’s most popular events.
Though Reinhardt died 70 years ago, gypsy jazz continues to find new audiences. Its popularity surged in the aftermath of Woody Allen’s 1999 film Sweet and Lowdown, in which Sean Penn portrayed 1930s, fictional jazz guitarist Emmet Ray, who idolizes Django Reinhardt.
A Romani gypsy from Belgium, Reinhardt emerged in the 1930s as Europe’s best-known jazz musician, a virtuoso guitar player who combined his love for American greats like Louis Armstrong with the rich and mysterious Romani musical tradition. Though he died tragically young at age 43, Reinhardt’s musical legend was by that time cemented within jazz circles, and the past few decades have seen a worldwide spike in interest in both his music and his place in jazz history.
“He transformed jazz in a lot of ways,” said Nick Lehr, the late co-founder of DjangoFest Mill Valley who produced his first such festival in Whidbey Island, Washington back in 2001. “Not only was he the most famous European jazz musician, but he’s also probably the only European that really contributed to the development of the art form.”
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