Mon Apr 7
Hot Club of Baltimore
7PM / $25 | $7 Fees Get Tickets
Hot Club of Baltimore
Renowned guitarist Michael Joseph Harris brings his Django Reinhardt inspired group Hot Club of Baltimore to the stage on April 7th as part of the International Guitar Series. Expect a wide range of music including traditional Gypsy Jazz, virtuosic French waltzes, burnin' be-bop tunes, and sublime romantic melodies. Shawn Simon will be on bass and Connor Holdridge will be on rhythm guitar. This particular group seems to read each other's minds on stage. It's a wonderful blend of improvisation and impressive technical ability. Harris will also include classics in the 1930's Hot Club style began by Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli.
In 2012, after years of performing mostly Brazilian and Latin influenced original music, guitarist Michael Joseph Harris began The Hot Club of Baltimore in order to perform music inspired by legendary guitarist Django Reinhardt. After a surge of composing in 2013, Harris formed the Ultrafaux Ensemble to perform his original songs in the "Gypsy Jazz" style. Since that time, Harris has created his own distinctive guitar style by blending of the fire of Gypsy jazz with a deep sense of improvisation reflecting his ongoing fascination with folk and world music. Harris says, "Every single show is absolutely unique and spontaneous. The music requires a lot of practice, but the listeners ultimately create the music. Part of what we do on stage is to provide a kind of portal into the infinite present of creation."
In 2015, Harris founded Charm City Django Jazz Fest, the longest running annual Jazz festival in Baltimore. Through his role as festival director, Michael has formed relationships with some of the best players on the international scene while fostering a strong local following. As a result, Baltimore Style Magazine named Michael one of the city’s top musicians and he was featured in a full-spread article in The Baltimore Sun newspaper. Michael keeps a busy touring schedule with both bands while building a local music community leading his weekly Monday Django Jazz Jam and teaching ongoing workshops on the style and technique of Django Reinhardt.
Michael Joseph Harris has quickly become one of the most prolific composers of Gypsy Jazz-style songs in the world releasing a total of 8 full-length Reinhardt-inspired recordings by both groups since 2014. Harris’ songs Latcho Dromo, Signs of Struggle, and Jaguar were included on an international compilation of top Gypsy Jazz produced by Jon Larsen called Django Festival (#9 & #11 and #13). Hot Club of Baltimore was featured on the same compilation. Michael’s most recent album Tangent introduces a larger group of artists from the jazz, folk, and bluegrass scene including violinists Jason Anick and Patrick McAvinue, clarinet virtuosos Giacomo Smith and Connor Stewart, bassist Geoff Saunders, and accordionist Dallas Vietty. Harris has been featured at Festival Django Reinhardt in France, Blues Alley, Birdland NY, Blue Note NY, Django by the Sea, Django-A-Gogo NY, Midwest Gypsy Swingfest, Napa Valley Jazz Society, Djangoary Soiree, Django Birthday Festival Asheville, Le Quecumbar London, Jazz Club Lyon St. Georges, Art Base in Brussels, IMT Folk Series, and the Preston Jazz and Improvisation Festival UK.
7PM / $25 | $7 Fees Get Tickets
1. Final sale, no refunds, not transferable.
2. $15 food/beverage minimum per person not included in ticket price.
3. Seating first come at the door. Doors open 6 PM & 8:45 PM respectively.
4. Photography or Recording of any kind is prohibited during the performance.
5. Keep conversation to a minimum during the performance.