Please join us to celebrate 20 years of bringing world-class jazz in the tradition of Django Reinhardt to the Pioneer Valley. The groups featured in our performances are made up of artists who serve on the faculty of “Django Camp”, which by showtime will have been running on the Smith College campus all week long. We’ll do our best to describe this year’s program below, but it is safe to say that other artists will appear as well. Django in June’s concerts are delightfully unpredictable that way!
FRIDAY JUNE 14
Brad Brose and his Bad Bros
Jean-Claude Laudat and Jean-Yves Dubanton
Length: 150 Minutes
Brad Brose is among the most widely-travelled of North American jazz Manouche guitarists, and the Bad Bros of his band range the map as well: violinist Adrien Chevalier hails from France; drummer Uri Zelig from Israel; and bassist Abe Pollack, from Seattle. With tunes from Mexico to France, the Bad Bros take their musical inspiration from around the world and from past to present.
Accordionist Jean-Claude Laudat hails from the Bastille district of Paris, a stone’s throw from the famous rue de Lappe known in Django’s era as the center of the “swing musette” scene. He and guitarist/vocalist Jean-Yves Dubanton have been carrying the flame of that tradition since the mid-90’s, sprinkling it with French chanson and Jazz Manouche. This visit to Django in June is their first performance in the US.
SATURDAY JUNE 15
Max O’Rourke
Les Violons de Bruxelles
Length: 150 Minutes
Max O’Rourke first attend Django in June years ago as a teenager. Not much later they won the 2015 Saga Award at DjangoFest Northwest, ran the gauntlet that is Berklee College of Music, and toured with elite American Jazz Manouche musicians John Jorgenson and Gonzalo Bergara. In recent years, Max’s steadiest gig has been with another of North America’s premier GJ outfits, Rhythm Future Quartet. For some time now we’ve been telling Max there’s a spot reserved on our stage for their own group, playing their own compositions. Tonight Max claims that spot, joined by clarinetist Evan Arntzen, Sami Arefin on rhythm guitar and Abe Pollack on bass.
To close out our anniversary concerts we’ve invited back an old friend of the event, Tcha Limberger, who heads up Les Violons de Bruxelles, one of the most inventive and entertaining groups playing what we might call “Inverted Jazz Manouche”. Most often the instrumental formula for groups playing in this style is that of the legendary Hot Club de France: a violin or clarinet, a lead guitar, one or two rhythm guitars and a double bass. Les Violons takes that formula firmly in hand only to turn it on its head: a single guitar and bassist, with three violins. Group leader Tcha Limberger is a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist carrying on the tradition of his own storied family of Sinti musicians. Over our two decades, Tcha has joined us as much as any other European musician, and much more than most. Les Violons de Bruxelles is, in fact, the only European group we have ever invited back for an encore performance. This final set of our 20th anniversary concerts offers you an opportunity to see, and hear, why.
This event is participating in the Card to Culture Program! They will be offering 10 seats in the balcony or ADA seating areas at a discounted price of $10 to any patrons with a valid EBT, WIC, or ConnectorCare card. To purchase these tickets, please visit or call the box office Tuesday through Friday between 3:00pm and 6:00pm. Limit 4 tickets per cardholder per show. Tickets are sold on a first-come-first-serve basis. Find out more at: https://massculturalcouncil.org/organizations/card-to-culture/
Fees always apply to purchase. Tickets can be purchased in person or over the phone Tuesday through Friday 3pm to 6pm. Tickets can also be purchased online at any time for no additional cost/fee. All Sales are final. If you have any questions about accessibility, please contact the box office at [email protected] or (413) 584-9032 X105.
Show Date/Time:
Friday, June 14, 2024 at 7:30 pm through Saturday, June 15, 2024 at 7:30 pm
Doors at 7:00 pm
Ticket Prices:
$30.00 ($35.91 after Fees) & Day-of-Show $35.00 ($41.47 after Fees)
Where/ How Tickets Can be Purchased:
Purchase online using the button on the top right (scroll to the bottom of the page if using mobile), or you may visit or call our box office at 413-584-9032 ext.105.
Box Office Hours are 3pm - 6pm, Tuesday - Friday. Service fees always apply with purchase.
