Video: Django Reinhardt Festival in NYC

Air France Presents The Django Reinhardt NY Festival featuring Gypsy Guitar Legend Dorado Schmitt with Amati Schmitt, Ludovic Beier, Pierre Blanchard, Francko Mehrstein and Xavier Niki and special guests.

The program takes place nightly from Tuesday, November 15, 2016 until Sunday, November 20, 2016 at Birdland, 315 West 44th Street, New York, New York, 10036. Doors open at 7:30 PM. The show begins at 8:30 PM. Dinner is served between 5:PM-1:AM.

The Django Reinhardt Festival carries on the legacy of legendary gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt, with original music keeping it fresh, exciting, cutting-edge! .…along with some old favorites.. the music, Hot Jazz, ‘swiging and romantic’ has exploded across the US and it all started at Birdland in 2000, with the launching of the Festival with tours now 2X a year at prestigious venues…to standing ovations: Kennedy Center, Disney Hall in LA, SF Jazz, to name a few.

Dorado Schmitt is a legendary Manouche gypsy guitarist from the Strasbourg region of France, a Django look- alike with pencil thin mustache, returns to Birdland to adoring fans. Schmitt started coming to the US in 2002 and is now a star attraction at major festivals as well as at Birdland.

He is joined by his son, Amati Schmitt, a brilliant guitarist at 20 years old, plus other talented musicians appearing regularly as part of the Festival: Virtuoso accordionist/accordina player Ludovic Beier, Pierre Blanchard on Violin, Francko Mmehrstein on rhythm guitar, and Xavier Niki on Bass. The Festival is produced by Pat Philips Stratta , founded by Ettore Stratta and Pat Philips.

The excitement continues at Birdland with the Django Reinhardt NY Festival going into its 17th year. There will be on a cross country tour after Birdland: The Dakota in Minn., SF Jazz, The Athenaeum in San Diego, Mizner in Boca Raton Florida, and ending at the Faena in Miami.

Special thanks to: Air France, RD Wright, INC., John Pearse Strings, The Joan and John D’Addario Found.