Camp Django Presents: Gypsy Jazz Legends Live (Portland)

Lineup

• More details about Jimmy Grant

  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.

• More details about Eva Slongo

  Eva Slongo

• More details about Sam Farthing

  Sam Farthing

  Sam Farthing is a 22-year-old guitarist and songwriter from Baltimore, specializing in jazz manouche and gypsy music. Inspired by his hero Django Reinhardt, Sam began playing guitar at age ten and quickly immersed himself in the rich tradition of gypsy jazz. His career has already taken him to stages around the world, including performances at the Festival Django Reinhardt in France, Djangofest Northwest in Washington, Django sur Lennon in Ireland, Django à Gogo events across the USA, and the Charm City Django Jazz Fest in his hometown of Baltimore. Known for both his authenticity and artistry, Sam has established himself as a rising voice in the genre. Beyond the stage, he is a dedicated teacher, sharing his passion and knowledge with musicians of all styles.

• More details about Paulus Schafer

  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‘.

• More details about Simon Planting

  Simon Planting

  Simon Planting studied classical double bass with musicians of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and jazz at the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam. He subsequently built an international career performing jazz, swing, and Gypsy jazz. Early in his career, Planting became well known in the Netherlands through a roughly 10-year association with pianist and television personality Cor Bakker. He later developed an important musical partnership with Gypsy-jazz guitarist Fapy Lafertin, touring and recording extensively with him. He also spent approximately 17 years performing and recording with Dutch jazz singer Mathilde Santing. Planting has worked with many leading figures in Gypsy jazz, including Jimmy Rosenberg, Angelo Debarre, Dorado Schmitt, Samson Schmitt, Stéphane Wrembel, Robin Nolan, Tim Kliphuis, Andreas Öberg, and Gonzalo Bergara. He has also performed with jazz musicians such as Bill Frisell, Larry Coryell, and Howard Alden. In 2009, Planting joined the John Jorgenson Quintet, where his powerful, swinging double-bass playing became an important part of the group’s Jazz Manouche sound. Planting now lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and has become an important figure in the American Gypsy-jazz scene. He has served as a curator/artistic director of DjangoFest, including DjangoFest Northwest and DjangoFest Mill Valley, helping bring major international Gypsy-jazz musicians to the festivals