Concert review and audio: 6th Annual Django Reinhardt Festival at Arts Fifth Avenue (Saturday show)

by Mike Orren

FORT WORTH — Over the past couple years I've heard great things about the annual Django Rheinhardt Festival at Arts Fifth Avenue, generally held around the anniversary of the jazz great's birth. I was glad we finally made it out this year, as I'm a huge Django fan. (It's a happy coincidence that the technology platform we use most on Pegasus News is named in his honor.)

This year's festival also included a hat tip to Antonio Carlos Jobim, whose songs worked their way into the evening's performances.

With different players each night, the Fest follows a consistent format from day to day and year to year: There are guitar workshops in the afternoon, followed by an early-evening film, followed by musical performances in the Gypsy style. Beer, wine and water are available with a reasonable "suggested donation" (convoluted liquor laws) and there is also a buffet of homemade casseroles, cheeses and baked goods.

The film on Saturday was Django Legacy, a documentary mixing stories from Django's life with performances from and backstory on contemporary (as of the late 1980's) musicians, including Django's son. It was a good warmup, with lots of closeups of the intricate fingering required to play the style. One caveat: The films are shown on the wall of a large room in the venue, which is fine unless (like me) you sit in the back row and hope to make out the French subtitles.

But the real show was in the main room afterwards, as the sold-out crowd made its way into the main room which had been decked out with a faux campfire, a homemade sign proclaiming "Le JazzHot," a glowing moon icon and a healthy dose of incense. The crowd was mixed, but tended to the older side of what you'd see at a jazz show in town. Many had been to all six renditions of the festival, and the familiarity made for a laid-back vibe. If you want to go to the fest, it's advisable to reserve your seats in advance.

The opening act, San Marcos' Gypsy Moon, was a husband-wife duo who tended towards waltzes. Ray (lead) and Linda (rhythm) Siro bantered amiably between songs, giving the vibe of a living-room concert. They knew their musical history; playfully pronounced French words with a Texas twang; and played complex jazz tunes with ease. They are regulars at this festival, apparently having taken up Gypsy jazz as a result of a last-minute fill-in slot at the first year's event.

Headliners Yo! Gadjo were a family affair, featuring Texas guitar legend Slim Richey, his wife Meaux Jeaux, his daughter Albanie, fiddle player Katie Holmes and guitarist Django Porter (real name). As much as I enjoyed Gypsy Moon, this was more the hot jazz style I prefer, with three guitars, violin and a stand-up bass. Everyone in the band was top-notch, but particular standouts were Django on guitar (natch) and the Albanie's vocals, which were in a slightly off-phrase style that works only (but to great effect) in jazz.

Yo Gadjo! (which literally translates "Yo, I ain't no Gypsy!") played two full sets, plus an encore, followed by a jam session with Gypsy Moon and other audience members who had instruments with them, taking the show well past midnight. They came across a bit like The Asylum Street Spankers, sans the parody songs: funny and loose, but pure virtuoso. It was a great tribute to Django's music and will now be an annual stop for me and mine.

The festival continues Sunday night.