Raven Performing Arts Theater presents Django Festival Allstars & Veronica Swift

Django’s unmistakable cool and jumpin’ joie de vivre have made him an icon for an unlikely range of luminaries from Carlos Santana to Eric Clapton, guitar greats! Jimi Hendrix named his “big band of gypsies” in tribute, and Willie Nelson adopted his influence in “country-swing.”

The Django Festival Allstars have grown into a brilliantly cohesive group of star musicians who’ve taken America by storm, performing at top concert halls and festivals to standing ovations. They’ve appeared at SFJazz, Kennedy Center, Dizzy’s and Rose Hall, Jazz@Lincoln Center, Keystone Korner, Hollywood Bowl, Montreal Jazz Festival and Arts Centers, Kimmel, Strathmore, and many more, including Carnegie Hall and Birdland (for 25 years).

The music speaks of Paris in the 20s and 30s when “gitane” music filled the air, in the cafés, the streets, in the countryside, a romantic Paris with lovers, campfires, a time of Montmartre, la belle époque, le Boudon café, café au lait, luscious pastry, and a great glass of wine. Django was “king’.”  He teamed with Jazz Violinist Stephane Grappelli and made musical history.

The Django Festival Allstars bring this music to today… combining known standards and original music…intoxicating!! They swing like crazy and will break your heart with a ballad. Their special guests have been Randy Brecker, Joe Lovano, Regina Carter, Cyrille Aimee, Ken Peplowski, Madeleine Peyroux, Sefon Harris, James Carter, to name a few.