Django Reinhardt Songbook
The director of Londons Gypsy Jazz Festival, Tobie Medland; and the host of 'Gypsy Jazz Hangouts' podcast, Cornelius Corkery, join forces to chart the life of the genre's founder, Django Reinhardt. For their 2023 UK-wide tour they present a compelling, evocative show in which violinist Tobie (Mozes Rosenberg, Antoine Boyer, Fapy Lafertin) and guitarist Cornelius (Noé Reinhardt, Daniel John Martin, Alan Barnes) visit the world of Django and his compadre Stephane Grapelli. The band, backed up by Sol Grimshaw on Rhythm Guitar and Marcus Penrose on Double Bass, explore the colourful mind and extraordinary music of the greatest European jazz musician by performing his landmark (and lesser known) compositions and telling stories of his fascinating life.
Django Reinhardt Songbook was formed by violinist Tobie Medland (Mozes Rosenberg, Fapy Lafertin, Antoine Boyer) and guitarist Cornelius Corkery (Noe Reinhardt, Daniel John Martin, Alan Barnes) as a way to celebrate and promote the wonderful music of European Jazz pioneer Django Reinhardt. Two highly sought-after musicians, they have performed across Europe at top tier venues including Sunset Sunside in Paris, The Mostar Gipsy Festival in Bosnia, Ronnie Scott's, and Vortex Jazz Club. They bring together a rhythm section of highly regarded British Jazz musicians to present a programme of Django Reinhardt compositions and arrangements, as well as favorite standards from the era, and some more modern music inspired by Django's legacy. They also speak about the fascinating lives of the first true pioneers of European jazz.
Tobie Medland was recently described by popular jazz blog Marlbank as "swingin' like a mother!", as well as JazzFM as "a hugely talented violinist and arranger." They have toured Europe and worked with a number of the worlds foremost Jazz and Gypsy Jazz musicians. Tobie is the curator of the 'Gypsy Jazz Festival of London' and has programmed a number of prestigious events including the 'Festival of French Jazz' at The Actors' Church, Covent Garden and 'London Jazz Sessions' at the Red Hedgehog in Highgate. Tobie has performed prolifically across Europe at venues including Vortex Jazz Club, Jazzbina Sarajevo, St. John's Smith Square, Leeds Town Hall and Crazy Coq's Soho.
Cornelius Corkery is a hugely respected guitarist who is considered a stalwart of the UK scene. He is host of the popular podcast "Gypsy Jazz Hangouts," and recently recorded an album with famous Parisian violinist Daniel John Martin over in the french capital. Cornelius hosts many of London's most popular Gypsy Jazz sessions including at the Myddleton Arms in Cannonbury and Sunday Jazz at Signature Brew. He has also performed at Ronnie Scott's, Sunset Sunside in Paris, Burton Agnes Jazz Festival, Watford Jazz Festival, Cork Jazz Festival and a number of prestigious venues.
