Django 100: A Century of Hot Jazz

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His nickname conjures up romantic evenings at sidewalk cafés on the Boulevard St. Germain: aromatic Gauloises Disque Bleu cigarettes; endless cups of café noisette; beret-wearing, leather-skirted mademoiselles. The very definition of gypsy jazz, Belgian guitarist extraordinaire Jean-Baptiste “Django” Reinhardt was the founder—along with violinist Stéphane Grappelli—of the superb and superbly named quintet Hot Club of France. He recorded with Coleman Hawkins and Louis Armstrong, played with Dizzy Gillespie and toured with Duke Ellington. And he would have been 100 last week. Honoring Django’s legacy and music are the touring ensemble—“virtuosic, hot, romantic”—of French gypsy icon Dorado Schmitt, with guests. C’est si bon.
Fri., Jan. 29, 7:30 & 9:30 p.m.; Sat., Jan. 30, 7:30 & 9:30 p.m., 2010