Jazz manouche en hiver
Every year since 2007, Northampton has been the site of “Django in June,” a five-day festival in late spring of concerts and workshops in Gypsy jazz — ”jazz manouche” in French — that celebrates the music first popularized by Django Reinhardt, the Romani-French guitarist of the early/mid 20th century.
Now Northampton’s Parlor Room has teamed up with the organizers of Django in June to offer what they’re calling “Django in January,” a concert featuring one of the great Gypsy guitarists of the 21st century, Stephane Wrembel. Wrembel, a native Frenchman who first honed his chops playing at Gypsy campsites in France, now lives in the U.S. but has performed all over the world, including at Django in June.
He comes to The Parlor Room on Sunday, Jan. 27 for two shows; the orginally scheduled show, at 7 p.m., has sold out, so a second performance, at 3 p.m., has been added (doors open at 2:30 p.m.). At press time, tickets were still available for the matinee, which will feature a different set than the evening show.
Wrembel, who will be joined by Thor Jensen (guitar), Ari Folman-Cohen (bass), and Nick Anderson (drums), is not just a consummate musician. He’s also a composer who wrote “Bistro Fada,” the theme song from the 2011 Woody Allen Oscar-winning film and Grammy Award-winning soundtrack, “Midnight In Paris.” In addition, he’s the founder of one of the most notable Gypsy jazz festivals in the world, Django a Gogo, in New York City and the greater metro area.
And for a little icing on the cake, Wrembel on Sunday will release his latest album, “The Django Experiment IV,” part of the guitarist’s continuing tribute to Django Reinhardt. The album release is timed to recognize the 109th birthday of the legendary musician and composer (Jan. 23, 1910). Visit signaturesoundspresents.com for tickets and more information.
Bodies still in motion
A variety of dancing has been on display in Northampton since “Bodies in Motion,” a four-week festival of performances, workshops and related activity opened Jan. 11 at the city’s Community Arts Trust building on 33 Hawley Street. The festival continues this weekend with new performances by Northampton’s sole pre-professional dance company, The Hatchery, which is based at the city’s School for Contemporary Dance & Thought (SCDT).
The SCDT dancers will perform Sunday, Jan. 27 at 33 Hawley as part of a 5 p.m. show that includes Cameron McKinney and the Kizuna Dance Company of New York, which mixes hip hop, house dance and elements of Butoh (a form of Japanese dance theater). Work will also be offered by Mededith Bove, a Northampton choreographer and writer who teaches at Keene State College in New Hampshire.
McKinney will choreograph work for dancers from The Hatchery, a company for ages 13 to 18. Now in its third year, the progam offers dance training “in contemporary techniques with an emphasis on developing the choreographic voice … [and] prepares young dancers from diverse backgrounds for the versatile demands of a professional career,” according to SCDT.
On the weekend agenda for Bodies in Motion are three other performers, all of whom appear at SCDT, 25 Main Street. On Friday, Jan. 25, beginning at 7 p.m., Lauren Horn, an Amherst College graduate, will combine movement and text, and Emma Rose Brown, a Queens-based multidisciplinary artist, will dance. On Saturday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m., Rythea Lee, a Northampton multi-disciplinary artist, presents a one-woman show, “Permanence is Exhausting.” More information, such as ticket prices, is at scdtnoho.com.
— Steve Pfarrer