Stephane Wrembel’s Django New Orleans
The Pocket130 West 46th Street, New York 10036
Stephane Wrembel brings Django New Orleans to The Pocket for a late set supporting Django New Orleans II: Hors Série. Wrembel leads the specialty ensemble on guitar and musical direction, joined by Roy Williams on guitar, David Langlois on percussion, Nick Driscoll on clarinet and tenor sax, Adrien Chevalie on violin, Joe Boga on trumpet, Steven Duffy on tuba, Scott Kettner on drums, and vocalist Sarah King. The program blends New Orleans brass traditions with the charged swing of Django Reinhardt’s Jazz Manouche, recasting classics alongside two Wrembel originals. The new record also marks Wrembel’s debut as a vocalist.
Wrembel is a guitarist and composer known for original music heard in the Oscar Award-winning films Midnight in Paris and Vicky Cristina Barcelona. His Django New Orleans project draws together the brass-band colors of New Orleans and Reinhardt’s Jazz Manouche language, expanding that meeting point with clarinet, saxophone, violin, tuba, percussion, drums, guitars, trumpet, and voice. Rather than presenting either tradition separately, this ensemble frames them as material for fresh arrangements and original writing, with Hors Série adding another chapter to Wrembel’s work as a composer and bandleader.
The Pocket offers a close-up encounter with world-class jazz musicians in a small, focused setting where every note feels immediate and unfiltered. The room is designed to bring listeners near the performers, creating a direct connection that makes the music feel personal and vivid. Seating is limited and arranged to emphasize attentive listening rather than casual socializing, with a bar available to complement the experience. Shows are ticketed, encouraging an audience that is there to fully engage with the performance. The venue’s location in Manhattan places it within easy reach of the city’s vibrant cultural pulse, making it a perfect spot for an evening dedicated to serious jazz appreciation without distractions.