Fridays Live: Dorado Schmitt & Sons: Django Festival Allstars

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SFJAZZ MAGAZINE
› Django Reinhardt's Jazz Manouche: The Sound of Jazz Manouche in 11 Songs, Curated by Dorado Schmitt & Sons

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Tonight on Fridays Live, SFJAZZ presents dazzling French guitarist and violinist Dorado Schmitt. He is joined by his sons Samson and Amati Schmitt, young guitarists. “A premier acolyte of the brilliant guitarist Django Reinhardt” (Variety), no one has done more to ignite interest in the legacy of the jazz guitar pioneer than Dorado Schmitt. Born to Roma parents near the German border in Lorraine, he’s been the leading figure on the international scene for nearly three decades and represents the art form at its highest level. His sons Samson and Amati Schmitt, represent the future of the jazz manouche tradition, as well as the brilliant jazz accordionist Ludovic Beier, a longtime member of Schmitt’s All-Stars ensemble.

“Mr. Schmitt has the springy phrasing and effusive flow of a Djangoloist; he’s clearly born to the style.
The New York Times

ABOUT DORADO SCHMITT
Pioneering Romani jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt lamented that he might be neglected by history, but today the ebulliently swinging “jazz manouche” sound he created with French violinist Stéphane Grappelli is more pervasive than ever.

“Clearly born to the style,”(The New York Times) no one has done more to ignite interest in the idiom than dazzling French guitarist and violinist Dorado Schmitt. Born to Roma parents near the German border in Lorraine, Schmitt was weaned on traditional Romani music and jazz and established the Dorado Trio in 1978, becoming a leading figure on the international jazz manouche scene by the mid-90s.

Among his compositions are “Bossa Dorado” and “Natacha — both of which have become standards of the jazz manouche repertoire. He won his first Django Award at the 2001 Django Reinhardt Festival in Luttre-Liberchies, France, and continues to represent the art form at its highest level.

Schmitt’s return to the Miner stage is decidedly a family affair. For this special week the maestro is joined by his sons Amati and Samson Schmitt, young guitar greats who represent the future of the French jazz manouche tradition.