Welcome to our 12th year of DJANGOFEST MILL VALLEY, celebrating the infectious music and spirit of the great French/Belgian Gypsy guitarist, Django Reinhardt! We have a tremendous, world-class line-up this year, with three nights of concerts and various workshops, informal djams and festival parties.

FRIDAY JUNE 10, 2016

Concert & Opening Party 8:00pm

• Robin Nolan Trio – Robin Nolan, Guitar; Simon Planting, Bass; and Jeff Radaich, Guitar
• Rhythm Future Quartet – Jason Anick, Violin; Olli Soikkeli, Guitar; Max O’Rourke, Guitar; and Greg Loughman, Bass

SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 2016

Workshops  11am/11am/2pm/2pm  

• 11:00am – Swing Fiddle with Jason Anick  
  Jason Anick will focus on the art of improvisation within the swing/jazz idiom. Phrases and licks will be taught and put into practice within standard swing tunes. You will work to expand your improvisational “toolkit” in hopes to improve your confidence and comfort within a swing or jazz jam session. Previous knowledge of basic harmony (scales, arpeggios, chords) is encouraged. There will be a lot of handouts, so participants should be able to sight read simple melodic phrases.
• 11:00am – Gypsy Jazz Guitar with Olli Soikkeli  
  Olli Soikkeli will conduct an in-depth workshop including discussion and demonstration of Django’s riffs, expressions and secrets. He will also discuss topics such as picking technique and tone to help you achieve that authentic Gypsy jazz ‘sound.’
• 2:00pm – The van Hemert Jazz System for Violin with Christiaan van Hemert  
  Christiaan van Hemert developed a unique gypsy jazz violin improvisation system that enabled him to get to a high level of violin playing in a short time. The so called “van Hemert system” will enable everyone to get to that level if they are willing to put in the necessary hours. In this workshop Christiaan will give a short overview of the system. All students will receive detailed PDFs with the system written down to review at home.
• 2:00pm – Gypsy Jazz Ninja Moves & more with Robin Nolan
  This workshop is for all levels of players. When you walk away from this workshop on your way to the Djam you will have a newfound confidence in your playing and a new stash of Ninja moves that will make your playing sound better than ever before. It is my mission to give as much of what I can about music, the guitar, and Gypsy Jazz to you within the amount of time we have to share together. Within the framework of some Gypsy Jazz classics, I will show you some of my favorite and most useful ideas: I’ll help you eliminate uncertainty from your soloing with my “Anti Waffle” approach. Let’s get to the bottom of playing ‘le pompe’ swing rhythm. I have developed a foolproof method of teaching this essential skill. If you can count to 4 you’re almost there. We’ll also learn the coolest rhythm embellishments and exactly where to put them.We’ll look at Bossa Dorado and I’ll teach some Ninja moves that kick ass over that tune. Also the Gypsy Bossa rhythm which is vital to get right. We will hone in on some major key swingers like “Djangology,” “All of Me” & “J’attendrai” and learn some cool lead lines, chordal ideas and voicings which will have you playing these tunes with new depth and confidence.We’ll do the same with some minor key swingers like “Minor Blues,” “Minor Swing” & “Swing Gitane” learning some spicy Gypsy licks over these tunes, as well as some from my own personal stash. I’ll show you some killer ways of approaching Nuages (Django’s most famous ballad) which will encompass both harmonic & rhythmical options giving you a new and fresh look at this musical gem. So if you’re ready to start Djamming with way more confidence and skill fast, plus have some serious fun at the same time then sign up now! See you there and let’s start some Ninja moves! – Robin Nolan

Concert 8:00pm

• Stochelo Rosenberg Quartet – Stochelo Rosenberg, Lead Guitar; Christiaan van Hemert, Violin; Brad Brose, Rhythm Guitar; and Simon Planting, Bass

SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2016

Workshop  11:00am  

• 11:00am – Gypsy Jazz the Rosenberg Way with Stochelo Rosenberg and Christiaan van Hemert 
  In this unique workshop attendees will be guided by the teaching team of the Rosenberg Academy (Stochelo Rosenberg and Christiaan van Hemert) through the basics of Gypsy jazz guitar. The workshop will consist of demonstrations, explanations and detailed instructions on achieving that instantly recognizable Gypsy jazz guitar sound by using the right techniques and practice methods. Stochelo has years of experience playing both as a soloist and rhythm player all over the world and has the ability to always be at the top of his game, no matter the circumstances. Christiaan has developed a teaching method which is used by hundreds of guitar players around the world at the Rosenberg Academy online. The application and explanation of this method in a live situation illustrated with on the spot demonstrations by Stochelo Rosenberg himself will prove an inspirational and invaluable experience. Brad Brose will also assist during the workshop on rhythm guitar.

Concert and All Star DJAM 5:00pm

• Gonzalo Bergara and a four piece string quartet featuring Leah Zeger, Violin; Paul Cartwright, Violin; Miguel Ferguson, Viola and Giovanna Clayton, Cello
• ALL STAR DJAM featuring Stochelo Rosenberg, Robin Nolan, Gonzalo Bergara, Christiaan van Hemert, Leah Zeger, Jeff Radaich, Brad Brose and Simon Planting!

** Get your ALL CONCERTS PASS & join us for three nights of spectacular concerts!

DJANGOGUITARS 2016 GYPSY JAZZ RAFFLE

Don’t miss this amazing opportunity! You need not be present to be this year’s lucky recipient. The winner will be chosen on Sunday, June 12th at 6pm. All proceeds go directly to support this program.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Since 2005, Stochelo Rosenberg and Christiaan van Hemert have been regular collaborators on many projects: from recording dates and concert tours to teaching workshops. In 2011 they started a very successful on-line Rosenberg Academy which can be found at rosenbergacademy.com. Both Stochelo and Christiaan share a deep love for the early recordings of Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli and they enjoy recreating some of the original arrangements of the Hot Club de France.  Born in a Dutch Sinti Gypsy camp, Stochelo started playing guitar at age 10. His teachers were his father, his uncle and the records of Django Reinhardt. When he was 12, he and his band won first prize in a Dutch national children’s TV-contest and never looked back. Today, he is a world renowned ambassador for Gypsy jazz and one of the most popular, in-demand guitarists in the world. He won countless awards, played and recorded with the biggest names across many styles and was a special guest of Grappelli himself in the Carnegie Hall in New York.  Christiaan van Hemert studied violin and double bass at the Utrecht, Rotterdam and The Hague conservatories and graduated with honors for both instruments. He has produced and participated in countless concerts playing with – among others – the Rosenberg Trio, Mozes Rosenberg, Roby Lakatos, Tchavolo Schmitt and Juan José Mosalini and was the conductor/arranger of his own symphonic orchestra for several years. He is also a well known tango bandoneón player and bluegrass instrumentalist. Besides a busy concert schedule he also teaches jazz violin in the master department of the Rotterdam Conservatory.

The Robin Nolan Trio is back with long-time associate Simon Planting on bass and renowned guitarist Jeff Radaich holding down the rhythm chair. Robin has been a favorite at DjangoFest throughout the country since it’s first inception in 2001, and is known around the world for his unique approach to the Gypsy Jazz. He is one of the best known teachers in the genre and a creative force who has help define the sound of Gypsy Jazz music since the 1990’s. Simon Planting is a powerhouse bass player who has played with every major Gypsy jazz artist in the world. He is the undeniable definition of the sound of bass in Gypsy Jazz. Jeff Radaich played rhythm guitar with the Gonzalo Bergara Quartet, and as a solo guitarist in his own right, is also a member of the L.A. band, Black Market Trust.

The acoustic jazz ensemble, Rhythm Future Quartet has a straightforward agenda: to keep the spirit of Gypsy jazz alive and expanding in today’s musical universe. The virtuosic foursome, named for a Django Reinhardt tune, offers up a newly minted sound, influenced by the classic Hot Club of France, yet wholly contemporary. Led by violinist Jason Anick and guitarist Olli Soikkeli, the quartet performs dynamic and lyrical arrangements of both Gypsy jazz standards and original compositions that draw upon diverse international rhythms and musical idioms. With Max O’Rourke on second guitar and Greg Loughman on bass, Rhythm Future is dedicated to expanding the boundaries of a vital musical genre.

Gonzalo Bergara, has a restless soul and his amazing compositions take us on his musical journeys. At DjangoFest Mill Valley 2016, Gonzalo with an all-star four-string quartet will take us on a voyage through time, as they perform “The Months”, a twelve-piece suite based on the calendar year. This will be a unique, world-class performance, one you will remember, all The Months of the year.  Gonzalo worked eight months to create and arrange this massive musical project. Although known best for his unique approach to Gypsy Jazz, Gonzalo has had a love of classical music that predates his love of Django Reinhardt’s music. As he notes, “I always felt drawn to those (classical) harmonies; it’s so intense. It’s like what music wants be when it grows up.” Joining Gonzalo is a lineup of world-class musicians in a special four-string quartet.