Camp Django Presents: Gypsy Jazz Legends Live (Berkeley)
Description
This concert celebrates the music and legacy of the legendary guitarist Django Reinhardt by presenting some of the most accomplished international stars in the world of gypsy jazz. Don’t miss the opportunity to see these acclaimed virtuosos perform together in an unforgettable night of fiery improvisation, lyrical ballads, and rich musical dialogue.
Paulus Schäfer stands at the forefront of a new generation of gypsy jazz musicians, combining a singing tone, fearless technique, and an unmistakably personal musical voice that carries Django Reinhardt's legacy boldly into the twenty-first century.
With equal artistry as a violinist and vocalist, Eva Slongo creates music of remarkable warmth and lyricism, seamlessly blurring the boundaries between voice and instrument through elegant improvisation and expressive storytelling.
Equally at home in concert halls and jazz clubs, Tim Kliphuis has forged a distinctive musical language that unites classical precision with the freedom, swing, and spontaneity of jazz improvisation.
Rooted in the tradition of Django Reinhardt yet unmistakably contemporary, Jimmy Grant combines dazzling technique, melodic imagination, and infectious swing to create performances that are both deeply expressive and thrillingly virtuosic.
The concert will also feature an opening set, Modern Jazz Hot Club, a local group that combines jazz traditions from around the world in thoughtful and unexpected arrangements.
House Keeping Notes
The program and concert information can be found at this LINK
If you purchased a VIP ticket you have front row reserved seating which will be assigned on a first come basis
All other ticket types are general admission open seating (first come basis) from the second row and beyond
Please no photo or video recording during the concert, and ensure your mobile devices are switched off
Late entry will be permitted during a suitable pause in the program
Concert length is approximately 2 hours with a brief intermission after the opening act.
Doors open approx 45 minutes before the start of the concert
There will be no bar or refreshments sold or onsite. We suggest you bring a water bottle with you if needed, and leave it closed in your bag during the performance
To help minimize disturbances during the concert, we ask if you can please refrain from entering and exiting the performance space during the music, and wait until a suitable time between pieces (during applause)
Printed or digital wallet tickets are preferred
If you can't find your ticket, don't worry, just let our door people know and they will look after you
Lineup
Jimmy Grant
Jimmy Grant grew up in a Northern California household rich with musical influences. During his travels across the country with his dad’s bluegrass band, he discovered the music of Django Reinhardt. Although his early musical landscape was shaped by Russian folk, bluegrass, Celtic, and classical music, he was irresistibly drawn to the vibrant sounds of Django Reinhardt from a young age. Under the guidance of renowned guitarists Jim Nichols and Howard Alden, Jimmy honed his craft, blending influences from Bach, Benny Goodman, and Joe Pass into his unique style. His artistry has led him to perform alongside acclaimed musicians such as David Grisman, Gonzalo Bergara, Ludovic Beier, Andreas Oberg, Tim Kliphuis, Paulus Schafer, Robin Nolan, Trio Dinicu, Rhythm Future Quartet, and the Hot Club of San Francisco. His performances have graced prestigious stages including Djangofest Northwest, The Savannah Music Festival, Nor Cal Jazz Festival, and The New York Hot Jazz Festival, as well as various venues throughout Europe. As a passionate educator, Jimmy has taught at colleges across the United States and has been a faculty member at the Django in June Festival in Massachusetts, Grappelli-Django Camp in Holland, and currently hosts his own "Camp Django" in Ashland, OR. He shares his insights into gypsy jazz through contributions to "Gypsy Jazz Secrets Magazine." Jimmy's creative endeavors also include recording two albums under his own name, participating in several jazz and rock albums, and having his music featured in films and television. Notably, his original composition "Insomnia" was a finalist in the John Lennon Songwriting Competition in the jazz category.
Eva Slongo
Eva Slongo was born in Switzerland to a family of classical musicians. She first trained as a professional classical violinist. One day, by chance, she tried to improvise with musicians in a bar; she felt such euphoria that she spent a sleepless night… It was then that she decided to do everything she could to practice improvisation on the violin. After her classical diplomas, she changed direction and started from scratch… She studied jazz violin with Pierre Blanchard in Lausanne, then with Didier Lockwood in Paris, where she decided to stay and live for music. She also practiced improvisation on vocals, which led her to create her very noticeable unique color: improvising on the violin and scatting simultaneously. In Paris, Eva Slongo met renowned musicians from the world of gypsy jazz with whom she shared the stage: Biréli Lagrène, Wawau Adler, Sébastien Giniaux, Ninine Garcia, and many others… In 2011, she won the Prize for Best Improvisation at the Stéphane Grappelli International Violin Competition sponsored by Didier Lockwood. In 2016, she obtained the 2nd prize of the Golden Jazz Trophy with her quartet. After all these years of experience, she was led to give masterclasses internationally. She needed to share more of her learning of the jazz violin, but struggled to find the time and method to do so. Her first pregnancy forced her to slow down concerts… but it led her to do what she would never have imagined: create a new educational concept on the internet, the blog “Learn Jazz Violin” which has become the 1st Google search result in French jazz violin, and finally a method “The new way to learn jazz violin.” Eva Slongo's new album “Souffle” was recorded in collaboration with pianist Giovanni Mirabassi, with whom she shares the stage regularly.
Paulus Schafer
Paulus Schäfer (born 1978) is today one of the most talented Gypsy Jazz guitarists from The Netherlands. Born into a Dutch Sinti (Gypsy) community he learned to play the guitar at a very early age. Besides listening to fellow Sinti and records of his idol Django Reinhardt, it was Wasso Grünholz – a legend within the Sinti community – from whom he learned the most. After a short period of time, in which Paulus briefly took over the lead guitar of Jimmy Rosenberg in the Gipsy Kids, he formed the Paulus Schäfer Gipsy Band and recorded his debut album Into the Light in 2002, followed by many concerts and numerous – headlining – invitations to jazz festivals: Sziget Festival Budapest (H), Khamoro Prague (CZ), IGGF Gossington (UK), Django Reinhardt Festival Samois-sur-Seine (FR), Gipsy Festival Anger (FR), International Gipsyfestival (NL), International Guitar Festival Kaluga (RU), Django in June (USA), Copenhagen Jazz Festival (DNK), Djangofollies (BEL), Django Liberchies (BEL), Tampere Guitar Festival 2015 (FIN), Seixal Jazz (PO), Jazz Dock Prag (CZ), Victoria Django Festival (CAN), Raduno Mediterraneo Jazz Manouche (ITA), Django a Gogo (US), Amersfoort Jazz (NL), Haarlem Jazz (NL), Breda Jazz (NL), Jazz in Duketown (NL), Yes Gouda Jazz (NL), Jazzclub Reduta Prag (CZ), Clamores Madrid (ES), Django Amsterdam (NL), Carnegie Hall NYC (US) 2017, The Woodland – Maplewood (US), Town Hall NYC (US), Rasprodano Lisinski Zagreb (HR) 2018, Deajeon International Guitar Festival (KR) 2018, Royal Opera House Mumbai (IN) 201) to name a few. Being a musician on high demand, Paulus is often to be found on stage with other musicians like The Rosenberg Trio, Biréli Lagrène, Stochelo Rosenberg, Al Di Miola, Fapy Lafertin, Stephane Wrembel, Jimmy Rosenberg, Tim Kliphuis, Feigeli Prisor, Andreas Öberg, Olli Soikkeli, Gonzalo Bergara, Ritary Gaguenetti, Jan Kuiper, Jan Akkerman, Damir Kukuruzović etc. and can be found on many albums. He also recorded two more albums with his own group in 2006, Desert Fire and Live at the NWE Vorst with the Paulus Schäfer Gipsy Band and The Tilburg Big Band. In March 2012 he released Twelfth Year, in which he guaranteed the assistance of Tim Kliphuis, Nous’che and Stochelo Rosenberg. In the same year two new albums been released. The surprising Rock Django and the Scandinavian album with Hot Club d’Europe Kouvola Junction. In November 2014 he had recorded with his trio and accordeonist Dominique Paats the cd album Rocky. With the CD Letter to van Gogh, October 2015 Paulus Schäfer brings a homage to this Dutch artist from Brabant. It is a unique album of his exclusive compositions. Paulus has a particular sound, easy recognised, and although all Paulus’ albums are true to a distinctive Gipsy Jazz/Swing sound; Paulus is always looking for a new modern sound. Not only to broaden his own horizons, but also for a more representative Gipsy Jazz sound for the 21st century. The violinist Tim Kliphuis typifies Paulus playing: ‘His singing tone, fearsome technique and well-balanced solos instantly reminded me of my days with Fapy Lafertin, who turned out to have been mentoring Paulus‘. On May 30 2013 he has been awarded by Mr. Akimov of the International Guitar Festival ‘The World of Guitar’ (Kaluga – Russian Federation) for his ‘special contribution to contemporary development of Gypsy Jazz‘.
Tim Kliphuis
Award-winning Dutch violinist Tim Kliphuis has created a brand new style that embraces classical, gypsy jazz and folk. Hailed as a ‘current-day improvising Paganini’, his inclusive and innovative approach to music has united audiences and is influencing a new generation of string players. As a composer, Kliphuis writes music that influences people through the heart - a very different route than the mind. For his newest piece ‘Kosmos’, he asked 5 Dutch star scientists about our future on this planet, and translated their stories and knowledge into music. In 2022, his climate change suite ‘The Five Elements’ accompanied the Royal mission to Stockholm and in 2023, he performed it for the United Nations General Assembly in New York. His 2021 Triple Concerto ‘Phoenix Rising’ (commissioned by NTR ZaterdagMatinee) considers our past, present and future. An in-demand educator and author of the best-selling book “Gypsy Jazz Violin”, Tim is Professor of String Improvisation at the Conservatoire of Amsterdam and Director of the gypsy jazz summer school Grappelli-Django Camp. In 2022, he started the world’s first comprehensive online course for jazz violin, Tim Kliphuis Studio. As a Sony Classical artist, Kliphuis recorded Vivaldi-inspired ‘Reflecting the Seasons’ in 2016, followed by ‘Brandenburg’, based on Bach’s Concertos, and his own ‘Ulysses’ Violin Concerto in 2018. He was awarded the Scottish Jazz Award, South African Woordfees Award and the Polish ‘Swing Raven’ Prize. After his master’s degree in classical violin at the Amsterdam Conservatoire, Kliphuis studied with the European Sinti gypsies. He recorded and toured with gypsy guitar legends Fapy Lafertin, The Rosenberg Trio and Angelo Debarre. An invitation to the Richard Strauss Festival in Germany started the Tim Kliphuis Trio (Nigel Clark, guitar and Roy Percy, double bass) whose mission is a ‘total music’ without stylistic barriers. They performed at the Amsterdam Canal Concert, curated the world fiddle night at Celtic Connections Glasgow, celebrated Stéphane Grappelli at the Django Reinhardt Festival in Samois-sur-Seine and shared the stage with Les Paul, Roby Lakatos, Richard Galliano, Frankie Gavin, Martin Hayes and Daniel Hope. The Trio collaborated with the Netherlands and Tallinn Chamber Orchestras, The Hague and Cape Town Philharmonic and Sinfonietta Amsterdam and toured America, South Africa and Russia. In between Trio tours and orchestral projects, the Tim Kliphuis Sextet with Nigel Clark, Roy Percy and string players Janneke van Prooijen, Frank Brakkee and Charles Watt continues to wow audiences across Europe: a colourful crossover approach to classical and jazz music. Tim Kliphuis is a DPA Microphones, Pirastro Strings and Zeta Violin artist.
Modern Jazz Hot Club
Modern Jazz Hot Club is a Bay Area ensemble exploring the crossroads of jazz manouche and modern straight-ahead jazz. Rooted in the acoustic swing and improvisational spirit of Django Reinhardt, the group expands the traditional Hot Club sound through inventive arrangements, rich harmonic language, and a touch of post-bop sophistication. Rather than relying solely on the familiar gypsy jazz repertoire, MJHC reimagines lesser-heard compositions from the bebop, hard bop, and post-bop eras through the distinctive instrumentation and rhythmic drive of jazz manouche. The ensemble’s repertoire also features compelling original compositions, intricate guitar interplay, lyrical melodies, and dynamic improvisation. The result is a sound that honors the Hot Club tradition without treating it as a museum piece: deeply swinging, unmistakably acoustic, and firmly connected to the broader language of modern jazz.
Tim Kliphuis, Paulus Schafer, and Jimmy Grant
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