Django Reinhardt (1910-53) was one of jazz’s most original and brilliant guitarists, certainly the top guitarist to emerge during the 1930s. But despite that, at the time of his death at the age of 43, he had relatively few followers. Charlie Christian was the dominant influence on jazz guitarists of the 1950s while Reinhardt’s own sound and style could only be heard now and then in the playing of Les Paul, Charlie Byrd, and a few European players. Somewhat miraculously things changed in the 1980s when he was suddenly discovered by many younger guitarists, particularly in Europe. Soon there were many Django Reinhardt festivals and seemingly scores of guitarists who were able to sound just like Django. It had taken 30 years for his playing to be revived in a big way.
The Django Reinhardt NY Festival, which takes place at New York’s Birdland, was founded in 2000 and has become a very popular annual event. The Django Festival All Stars, which was formed in 2002, was originally led by guitarist and violinist Dorado Schmidt and included his son guitarist Samson Schmidt, and the superb accordionist Ludovic Beier. The band has changed personnel a few times since then. Recently they released their fifth album (Evolution) which is the first one to feature all originals from the musicians as opposed to swing standards. The current band group is comprised of Samson Schmitt as guitar sol
