Article Contributed by Gratefulweb
Published on 2026-08-03
The Django Festival Allstars are celebrating the acclaimed release of Evolution, their 25th anniversary album, with an extensive 28-city U.S. tour continuing through May 2027.
Released in February via Motéma, Evolution has earned a strong response from critics, radio, and audiences around the world. All About Jazz called the album “luminous,” while In Music Magazine praised its “tremendous radiance.” The Arts Fuse described the group as “surely the best gypsy swing band in New York, Paris, or anywhere.”
The band has also launched a new website at djangofestivalallstars.com, featuring videos, photographs, press coverage, biographies, tour dates, and additional information.
The Allstars completed a three-week U.S. tour last November, culminating in a sold-out performance at SFJAZZ’s Miner Auditorium. Following several performances in France, the group is now returning to the United States for its 2026–2027 Evolution album tour, which runs from August through May.
Tour highlights include appearances at the Detroit Jazz Festival, SFJAZZ, and Jazz at Lincoln Center, along with concerts in Baltimore, Minneapolis, Houston, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and multiple cities throughout Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona.
The Django Festival Allstars emerged from the Django Reinhardt NY Festival, founded in 2000 by producers Pat Philips and Ettore Stratta. After 24 years at Birdland, the festival celebrated its 25th anniversary at Sony Hall in New York City.
The next chapter begins November 11 at Dizzy’s Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center, where the Django Festival Allstars will anchor a week of performances joined by special guests including Anat Cohen, Ute Lemper, Roberta Gambarini, and others to be announced.
A feature in the March 2026 issue of DownBeat, titled “Gypsy Jazz for the 21st Century,” chronicled the evolution of both the festival and the band.
The current lineup features Samson Schmitt on lead guitar, Ludovic Beier on accordion and accordina, and Pierre Blanchard on violin, alongside rhythm guitarist Francko “Locomotive” Mehrstein and bassist Antonio Licusati.
Together, the musicians stand at the forefront of a Nouvelle Gypsy Swing movement, creating original music rooted in Django Reinhardt’s tradition while expanding that legacy into contemporary jazz with a distinct identity of its own.
Fans can stream or purchase Evolution HERE and find complete tour information at djangofestivalallstars.com. The group can also be followed on Spotify, Facebook, and Instagram, while Motéma’s YouTube channel is currently presenting a new series of live Django Festival Allstars videos.
