Stephane Wrembel’s Django New Orleans
The Pocket130 West 46th Street, New York 10036
Stephane Wrembel brings his specialty ensemble Django New Orleans to The Pocket for the release of Django New Orleans II: Hors Série. Wrembel serves as musical director and guitarist, joined by guitar, percussion, clarinet and tenor sax, violin, trumpet, tuba, drums and vocals. The group brings New Orleans brass traditions into conversation with the fiery spirit of Django Reinhardt’s Jazz Manouche, recasting classic material while drawing on Wrembel’s own writing. The new record includes two original Wrembel compositions and marks his vocal debut.
Wrembel is a guitarist and composer renowned for original music heard in the Oscar Award-winning films Midnight in Paris and Vicky Cristina Barcelona. In Django New Orleans, he leads a large-format ensemble whose instrumentation makes room for brass, reeds, strings and rhythm alongside the guitars. Rather than treating New Orleans music and the Django Reinhardt tradition as separate repertories, this project joins their defining sounds: brass-band color, clarinet and saxophone lines, violin, driving percussion and the rhythmic charge associated with Jazz Manouche. This release-night set offers a focused hearing of that meeting point, including the newer material from Hors Série and Wrembel’s first recorded turn as a vocalist.
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.