BATH – The Maine Jazz Alliance and the Chocolate Church Arts Center will team up Saturday, June 16, to present Bath Djangofest: DjangoFest On Tour with the Robin Nolan Trio.
From the producers of Djangofest Northwest, Djangofest San Francisco and Djangofest LA, this ongoing series of concerts celebrates the music and spirit of the French Gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt. It is an opportunity for gypsy jazz fans, players and enthusiasts to enjoy this unique jazz style and to stop by one of several participating restaurants in Bath for late-night jam sessions.
Born in Vietnam in 1968 to musical parents, Nolan was immersed into the life of a working, traveling musician. In Hong Kong at age 6, he picked up the guitar. He was taught by his father and immediately showed a natural affinity for the instrument. His work has been praised by such musical icons as Bill Wyman, Willie Nelson and George Harrison.
Reinhardt (1910-1953) was born in Belgium and spent most of his youth in the gypsy encampments close to Paris, playing banjo, guitar and violin professionally at an early age in the famed Bal-musette halls in Paris. At age 18 his left leg was paralyzed and left hand severely burned in a fire at the family caravan. While recuperating, he adapted to play guitar with his new disability and in 1934, joined Louis Vola in the Quintette du Hot Club de France with violinist Stéphane Grappelli.
After World War II, Reinhardt rejoined Grappelli in the UK and went on to tour the United States, opening for Duke Ellington and playing at Carnegie Hall.
The concert will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are $26, $23 and $20. The arts center is at 798 Washington St.
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