Django meets Wes!

The music of Django Reinhardt & Wes Montgomery

An enchanting night featuring the music of two of the most innovative guitarists of the 20th Century! Jean Reinhardt, known by his Romani nickname Django (dʒãŋɡo ʁɛjnaʁt), was a jazz guitarist and one of the first major jazz talents to emerge in Europe. With violinist Stéphane Grappelli, Django formed the Paris-based Quintette du Hot Club de France in 1934; the group was among the first to play jazz that featured the guitar as a lead instrument. Reinhardt recorded with many Americans including Coleman Hawkins and Benny Carter, and toured the United States with Duke Ellington’s orchestra in 1946. We lost him in 1953 at the age of 43. Wes Montgomery was an American jazz guitarist. He is most known for his unusual technique of plucking the strings with the side of his thumb and for his extensive use of octaves, which gave him a distinctive sound. Montgomery often worked with his brothers, as well as organist Melvin Rhyne. His very swinging early recordings were oriented toward hard bop, soul jazz, and post bop. Around 1965 he recorded more pop-oriented albums that found mainstream success. We lost him in 1968 at the age of 45.

Dean Harrington: Guitar
Phil Aaron: Piano
Steve Pikal: Bass
Jay Epstein: Drums

Dean Harrington earned a Bachelor of Music Degree in Classical Guitar Performance from the University of MN and was a first prize winner in the Schubert Club scholarship competition. For the last two decades he has been exclusively a jazz musician performing with his own band Mill City Hot Club and other local groups. He is proud of his work as a guitar teacher for over 30 years at K & S Conservatory of Music in Woodbury, The Music Lab in Minneapolis, and Mount Olivet School of Music in Edina.