On the list of returning artists in the “Jazz at the Lobero” series at that historic venue, the Django Festival Allstars count as one of those jazz entities whose appeal extends beyond the usual jazz fan suspects. The group is a kingpin organization of the subculture of guitar-based groups shamelessly emulating the miraculous Django Reinhardt, star of 1930’s “hot jazz” or “Gypsy Jazz” scene (“Roma Jazz,” for the politically correct).
The Allstars dazzle listeners of many demographics with infectious good spirits, shameless cheerful historicism, and hot licks by the dozen-squared. Fans of more cerebral and contemporary modes of jazz can join the party, as can your general-purpose music-loving friends and family.
With their return to the Lobero on Friday, November 21, the group, founded by virtuosic Manouche (French Romani) guitarist Dorado Schmitt in 2002, arrives in 2025 with changes in the making. Dorado has passed the leadership torch to his son Samson Schmitt — another dizzyingly talented force on the fretboard — joining frontliners Ludovic Beier, on accordion, and violinist Pierre Blanchard, Antonio Licusati on double bass, and Francko Mehrstein on rhythm guitar.