Tickets are now on sale for DjangoFest Northwest, Whidbey Island’s signature festival that brings gypsy jazz performers to Whidbey Island Center for the Arts.
WICA announced the performers who will attend this year’s event this week. The festival attracts gypsy jazz fans from across the globe, and many performances typically sell out well in advance.
This year, the Langley festival welcomes the world-renowned Rosenberg Trio to DjangoFest Northwest, and the visit by the Holland-based group will mark their first performance in the United States in 10 years.
In addition to performing, the trio will conduct two workshops, including a special Rhythm workshop.
This year’s lineup also includes the Sebastien Giniaux Trio with Mathieu Chatelain and Jeremie Arranger, considered by many to be the hottest of the young players on the Paris scene today.
WICA also announced this week performances by the John Jorgenson Quintet with three new members and two completely different sets of new material. Other performers include the straight-ahead jazz giants Howard Alden and Mimi Fox; the great Marc Atkinson Trio from Canada and the debut performance of the inventive Van Django.
Regional favorites Pearl Django and Hot Club Sandwich from Seattle, and Whidbey’s own Billet-Deux, are also scheduled to perform.
Back by popular demand are
3 Leg Torso and Fishtank Ensemble.
The festival will include Jessica Fichot, a new entry in the “eclectic” category. Fichot is a versatile accordion and piano player, and sings in French, English, Chinese and Spanish.
Rounding out the line-up are the Gonzalo Bergara, Hot Club San Francisco, Hot Club Pacific from Santa Cruz, and Hot Club Eugene.
Many of the performers will be conducting workshops and, as always, spontaneously “djamming” throughout Langley for five days.
Djangofest Northwest runs from Wednesday, Sept. 24 through Sunday, Sept. 28.
To see a video from Djangofest Northwest 2007, go to
www.pnwlocalnews.com/whidbey/swr/news/18229689.html.
For more information, call the WICA ticket office at 221-8268 or 800-638-7631, or visit www.WICAonline.com.
