A Grand Gypsy Jazz Celebration is coming to New York City as Pat Philips and Blue Note present the Django Reinhardt NY Festival 25th Anniversary Celebration at Sony Hall on Thursday, November 13, 2025, at 8 PM. This milestone event brings together the renowned Django Festival Allstars with the brilliant jazz vocalist Veronica Swift, plus clarinetist Ken Peplowski and other surprise guests from the festival’s storied 25-year history.
Heralded as “Sensational” by George Benson, “the hardest swinging group at the Newport Jazz Festival” by DownBeat, and “the best jazz show in town” by The Wall Street Journal, the Django Festival Allstars have dazzled audiences worldwide with their fiery, heartfelt approach to Gypsy Jazz—also known as “Hot Jazz.”
A Special Anniversary Concert
This one-night-only event will serve as the grand finale to a year-long celebration of the festival’s 25th anniversary. Founded in 2000 by Ettore Stratta and Pat Philips, the Django Reinhardt NY Festival was the first of its kind in New York and quickly became a sold-out annual tradition at Birdland. Over the years, it has introduced countless audiences to the joys of Gypsy Jazz, inspiring new fans while honoring Django Reinhardt’s enduring legacy.
The 2025 concert will take the place of this year’s traditional week-long festival run, which will return to its full residency format in November 2026.
The Allstars Lineup
The Django Festival Allstars brings together some of the finest musicians in the genre:
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Samson Schmitt – dazzling gypsy guitar legend and son of Dorado Schmitt
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Ludovic Beier – accordion and accordina maestro
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Pierre Blanchard – exceptional jazz and classical violinist
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Francko Mehrstein – rhythm guitar specialist
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Antonio Licusati – rock-solid, hard-swinging bassist
Together, their synergy ignites stages worldwide, from sold-out residencies at Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s Club to the mainstage of France’s prestigious Festival Django Reinhardt in Fontainebleau.
Veronica Swift Joins the Celebration
Fresh off her acclaimed solo career, Veronica Swift brings her stunning vocal artistry and fearless improvisational spirit to the Allstars. A longtime collaborator with the festival, Swift’s presence promises to add new layers of depth and excitement to the celebration.
Following the Sony Hall concert, Swift will also join the Django Festival Allstars for a twelve-city U.S. tour, with dates spanning Minneapolis, Phoenix, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and beyond.
2025 U.S. Tour Dates
Django Festival Allstars with Special Guest Veronica Swift
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Nov 13 – Sony Hall, NYC, NY
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Nov 14 – City College Workshop, NYC, NY
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Nov 16 – The Dakota, Minneapolis, MN
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Nov 18 – Musical Instrument Museum, Phoenix, AZ
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Nov 19 – Athenaeum Jazz, San Diego, CA
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Nov 20 – Raymond Kabazz Theater, Los Angeles, CA
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Nov 21 – The Lobero Theater, Santa Barbara, CA
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Nov 22 – Healdsburg Jazz Festival, Healdsburg, CA
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Nov 23 – Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society, Half Moon Bay, CA
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Nov 28 – The Center for the Arts, Grass Valley, CA
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Nov 30 – SFJAZZ, San Francisco, CA
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Dec 1 – Kuumbwa Jazz Center, Santa Cruz, CA
Looking Ahead
With a new album soon to be announced on the Grammy®-winning Motéma label, the Django Festival Allstars enter their next chapter with fresh energy and global momentum. Their 25th anniversary celebration at Sony Hall will be a fiery, joyous, and unforgettable night—a true tribute to the enduring genius of Django Reinhardt and the worldwide community his music continues to inspire.
Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind evening of world-class Gypsy Jazz!
