Django in June

Weekend Offerings
Our weekend option is for musicians who would like to get in on the action at Django in June, but either can't or would rather not commit to Django Camp in its entirety. While our activities leading up to the weekend will be reserved for Django Camp participants, from late Friday afternoon on you are more than welcome to join us for a couple hours or a couple days to jam, take clinics, visit vendors, stay in the dorm, share meals and take in a show or two. Unlike Django Camp, everything over the weekend will be à la carte, so you can pick the precise mix of activities that works for you.

Please use the links toward the top of the page for info on Housing and Food, Directions, Concerts, etc. All of these are part of the weekend, for sure, but here we'll focus on the rich and diverse selection of clinic offerings that will be available to musicians over the course of the weekend.

When you've made your selections and you are ready to register, surf on over to Tickets and Registration. C'est logique!


About the Clinics, Schedule and Levels

Although instructional materials have gotten immeasurably better over the past few years there is ultimately no substitute for the opportunity to sit a few feet away from a real expert in a live, interactive setting and hash things over. But when it comes to studying Gypsy jazz in the United States, "experts" are few and far between. That's what makes this weekend such a precious opportunity for those of us who would like to take a step forward in both our understanding of this music and our ability to make it ourselves. It's safe to say that there is nowhere else this side of the Atlantic where you will find such a rich diversity of educational offerings for students of Gypsy jazz across levels and instruments. Please take advantage of the opportunity to the fullest!

To make quick sense of the table below, please note the following:

  • The primary instrument of the clinic presenter is (usually) indicated in the left hand column. Please note, though, that some clinics are perfectly suitable for mixed instrumentation. These are indicated with this *.
  • The colored blocks you see to the right of the clinic title indicate the level of instrumental ability for which the clinic is intended. If you choose to attend a clinic that may be beyond your ability to fully participate you are still welcome to observe and ask questions. The key to the color code is just above the table. Keep reading for more info on the levels.
  • "Introductory" clinics are introductions to the topic at hand, but not to the instrument. All our clinics assume a base level of competency on your instrument. You will also do well to familiarize yourself with at least a few tunes in our core repertoire before attending. You can find them (and much more) under the "Get Ready Musically" pages of this website.
  • Similarly, just because you are an "advanced" flatpicker or jazz guitarist does not necessarily mean you are ready for an advanced level Gypsy jazz clinic, especially when it comes to rhythm guitar and right hand technique. If you decide to attend an advanced clinic and find it beyond your level of ability in the style, feel free to observe and absorb what you can, but please do not expect the teacher to bring things down to your level. This is one of very few places in the country where dedicated GJ players can be "met" and challenged and that's the primary objective of the advanced clinics

Weekend Clinic Schedule
You can click the text at the top of any column for descriptions of all the clinics offered at that time, or just scroll down the page to see descriptions of everything. Please note that biographical information about our clinicians is not included here. For that, visit the Staff/Artists page.
Level 1 (Intro)
Level 2 (Intermediate)
Level 3 (Advanced)
Appropriate for players at all levels
Category
  
Rhythm & Lead Guitar
Intro to La Pompe
Joshua Assad
    Ballad as Bolero: Anouman
Lundgren, Sjöstedt, Reich
    

Gypsy Rumba: Caravan
Ballester & Sjöstedt

     Prime Your Pompe
Aurelien Bouly
 
   
Right Hand, Man
Joscho Stephan 		  How I Learned
Gonzalo Bergara
   Gypsy Jazz Waltzes
Horowitz		   *Harmonic Substitution for Soloists
Biel Ballester 		 
*Voice Leading and Phrasing
Denis Chang 		  Chord Melody Soloing
Joscho Stephan		   *Melodic Swing and Groove
Gonzalo Bergara 		  *Straight-ahead Jazz & Django
Gustav Lundgren 		 
 
*Improv Fundamentals:
Minor Swing
Jack Soref 		  *Improv Fundamentals
Blues For Ike
Jack Soref 		  *Improv Fundamentals
I Got Rhythm
Jack Soref
  *Improv Fundamentals
Honeysuckle Rose
Jack Soref 		 
Gypsy Thinking
Aurelien Bouly		   This Gypsy's Picking
Aurelien Bouly 		  Survey of GJ Improvisation Techniques
Joscho Stephan 		     
 
Mandolin

Smooth Cycling
Jamie Masefield

  Stop Action Sweet Sue
Jamie Masefield
  Jamie will be facilitating a jam during this period.
  Chord Melody Mando
Jamie Masefield 		 
 
Violin
Technique Builder
Evan Price 		  *Those Changeling Rhythm Changes
Evan Price 		  *Motivic Upcycling
Evan Price 		     
   
(see Voice Leading And Phrasing with D. Chang)   Time is of the Essence
Tim Kliphuis 		  Questions, Answers and Coaching
Tim Kliphuis
  Grappelli's 1937 Minor Swing Solo
Tim Kliphuis 		 
   
Accordion
 *Building An Arrangement
Rob Reich 		  *Soloing on Ballads: Anouman
Rob Reich 		  *Harmonic Expansion
Rob Reich
  Rob will be facilitating a jam during this period.  
   
Bass


 

Ballad as Bolero: Anouman
Lundgren, Sjöstedt, Reich

  Gypsy Rumba: Caravan
Ballester & Sjöstedt		      
*Facilitated Jams
with Q&A
Unfacilitated jamming
by level. Locations TBA 		    Facilitated jam Horowitz     Facilitated jam: Bouly     Facilitated jam: Price  
  Facilitated jam: Chang   Facilitated jam: Masefield   Facilitated jam: Reich
  Facilitated jam: Ballester   Facilitated jam: Lundgren   Facilitated jam: Bergara  

* indicates that the offering is suitable for mixed instrumentation.

Sunday Morning Clinics 10:30 - 12
Small Group Coaching
Denis Chang 		 

The Last Waltz
Reich & Bouly

  Questions, Answers and Coaching
Joscho Stephan 		  Questions, Answers & Coaching
Ballester, Lundgren, Sjöstedt		   Questions, Answers and Coaching
Evan Price 		 
 

 

Clinic Descriptions

For biographical infor on the clinicians, please see the Staff/Artists page.

Clinics on Friday from 4:00 - 5:30
Intro to La Pompe / Joshua Assad Josh Assad is the rhythm guitarist for Babik -- a terrific GJ based in Buffalo, NY. In this clinic he'll offer an intro to the one rhythm guitar style that sets Gypsy Jazz most clearly apart from American style Swing: la Pompe. In the course of this clinic, Josh will also cover the most common GJ chord voicings which, again, are not typique. Great for newcomers to the style and those who need a refresher.
Right Hand, Man / Joscho Stephan One of the striking attributes of Joscho Stephan's lead guitar style is his ability to combine three things that so often seem at odds with one another: speed, tone and precision. It's all in the right hand, man. Join him for a survey of right hand techniques that get the job done, his way.
*Voice Leading and Phrasing for Soloists / Denis Chang: In this clinic (oriented toward intermediate soloists, open to mixed instruments) Denis will demonstrate and discuss how to voice lead on common repertoire -- Norwegian Dance, Minor Swing, All Of Me -- including the basic concepts that Bach pioneered and that are still in use today. Related material includes phrasing and song structure. How does this understanding help you craft better solos? Come find out.
*Improv Fundamentals: Minor Swing / Jack Soref In this series of Improv Fundamentals workshops, Jack Soref will present and walk you through an etude built around the chord progression of a Gypsy Jazz standard. Very hands on, but with your head engaged so you can apply the material elsewhere. A great way to start building idiomatic improvisational vocabulary.
Gypsy Thinking / Aurelien Bouly So let's just say you do not have a Masters in music theory. Or even a Bachelors. Or, uh, the slightest clue. Like, say...Tchavolo Schmitt or the vast majority of Old School Gypsy players. How do they so masterfully negotiate complicated songs without this sort of theoretical knowledge? Call it Gypsy Thinking.
Smooth Cycling / Jamie Masefield Ben Franklin said, "In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." I would add to those two inevitable events this one: the occasion to solo over cycling dominant 7th chords. It's going to happen, whether on Sweet Georgia Brown, the bridge of I Got Rhythm or any of a thousand other tunes. In this clinic mandolin maestro Jamie Masefield will walk you through some etudes -- of varying degrees of complexity -- that will ready you for the inevitable.
Technique Builder / Evan Price Want to know how to make your violin sound "gypsy", or "jazzy", or "French", or even just better?  This class will cover some key differences in tone production between various styles of playing as well as provide a forum for student-generated questions about how to practice technique.  The class will also cover ways to incorporate jazz theory practice into your daily technique building routine through scales, modes, and arpeggios.
*Building An Arrangement: Rob Reich The difference between a tight jazz ensemble and a loose pickup band depends in large part on the arrangements.  In this clinic suitable for mixed instrumentation, our in-house accordionist Rob Reich will focus on the building blocks, including introductions, endings, breaks, and modulations.  Recommended for intermediate and advanced players.
Unfacilitated jamming: Since several members of our staff need this time to rest and prepare for their Friday evening performance, they will not be available to facilitate jams this afternoon. You'll have no trouble finding folks who are game to play a few tunes, though. Enjoy!

Clinics on Saturday from 10 - 11:30
*Ballad as Bolero: Anouman / Lundgren, Sjöstedt, Reich Three of Django in June's resident staff team up at this time to tackle several subjects at once. Topic A is the song itself: the beautiful Django Reinhardt ballad Anouman. Topic B is how to play a Gypsy-style Bolero, using Anouman as the vehicle. Gustav Lundgren and Martin Sjöstedt will work with guitarists and bassists with a focus on the chord progression and rhythm. Rob Reich will work with players of any instrument who want to focus more on meeting the challenges that ballads in general -- and this one in particular -- present to lead players.
How I Learned / Gonzalo Bergara Gonzalo's two volume "How I Learned" instructional set (available through Gonzalo or Djangobooks) lays out just what it's title suggests: how he learned to play Gypsy Jazz guitar. After purchasing it at last year's Django in June, someone wrote me (unsolicited) to say, " It's turned out to be one of the best instructional tool I've got. ... I wound up putting almost all of my other books on eBay and am focusing on a combination of Gonzalo and the "watch, listen, and learn" approach. Come "watch, listen, and learn" directly from Gonzalo at this clinic as he goes over selections from these rich sources of material for serious students of the style.
Chord Melody Soloing / Joscho Stephan Django reinhardt was not only capable of blistering single note melodic lines, but of brilliant chord-melody soloing. In this clinic Joscho Stephan will demonstate -- and invite you to try your own hands at -- some of Django's favorite chord-melody devices, as well as some of his own.
*Improv Fundamentals: Blues For Ike / Jack Soref In this series of Improv Fundamentals workshops, Jack Soref will present and walk you through an etude built around the chord progression of a Gypsy Jazz standard. Very hands on, but with your head engaged so you can apply the material elsewhere. A great way to start building idiomatic improvisational vocabulary.
This Gypsy's Picking / Aurelien Bouly Many students of this guitar style are familiar with Michael Horowitz's groundbreaking Gypsy Picking, which is devoted to the distinctive right hand technique employed by Django and virtually all of his heirs. One of those heirs -- both culturally and musically -- is our Gypsy-in-residence, Aurelien Bouly. Come explore this fascinating technical terrain with someone for whom it is native ground.
Stop Action Sweet Sue / Jamie Masefield Some time this winter our staff mandolinist Jamie Masefield posted a YouTube video in which lays down the head and a couple chorus on the Swing standard, Sweet Sue. For all its apparent informality, the performance covers a wide range of techniques and improvisational devices in just 2 minutes and 17 seconds. In this clinic, Jamie will help you extract and make some of them your own. You can see the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=md6sLg4bcmo.
*Those Changeling Rhythm Changes / Evan Price George Gershwin's immortal I've Got Rhythm formed a template for countless great jam tunes, including Django's "Daphne", "Swing 42", "R. 26", and "Artillerie Lourde".  This clinic will focus on getting you up and running quickly on this highly useful form, and will share ideas about the many ways to approach these tunes ranging from a simple, modal approach to fully outlining the changes.  We will also look at various types of turn-arounds—the basic building blocks of Rhythm changes tunes—and spice things up with some chord substitutions.  Players of all solo instruments welcome.
Time is of the Essence / Tim Kliphuis One thing that sets Jazz apart from Folk or Classical music is 'timing'. In this clinic, Mr. K. will work on the finer points of "feel" and timing in your solo -- both at note and phrase level -- to make it sound more "jazzy" and feel more natural.
*Soloing on Ballads: Anouman / Rob Reich While Gustav Lundgren and Martin Sjöstedt work with the rhythm section (see the description of Ballad as Bolero, above) Rob Reich will work with players of any instrument who want to focus more on meeting the challenges that ballads in general -- and Django's exquisite Anouman in particular -- present to lead players.
*Facilitated Jamming: Open to Django Campers and paid participants, these facilitated jams offer the opportunity for questions, challenges and points of interest to arise where they will most naturally: while playing together. If nothing arises but the pure joy of jamming, so much the better. These are intended for players of intermediate to advanced abilities since, by definition, Level 1 players aren't ready to just dive into a jam. If you think you can at least keep up with the rhythm, though, by all means, join in.

 

Clinics on Saturday from 1:30 - 3:00
Gypsy Rumba: Caravan / Ballester & Sjöstedt Biel Ballester (guitar) and Martin Sjöstedt (bass) will team up to offer this installment of our 2010 series on Latin rhythms in the Gypsy Jazz tradition. This time the focus will be on the rumba, explored via the Juan Tizol standard, Caravan. One of the particular challenges of this piece is that the rumba alternates with a swing feel in the B section.
Gypsy Jazz Waltzes / Michael Horowitz Before the arrival of jazz, the accordion-driven musette waltz was the predominant form of popular dance music in pre-war Paris. Django Reinhardt and other Parisian Gypsy musicians first honed their technique performing this challenging and beautiful genre. In this workshop we'll discuss both traditional  and contemporary accompaniment techniques for waltzes. Jazz waltzes, Latin waltzes, the flat three waltz, and numerous other variations and embellishments will be covered. You will also learn three waltzes, one traditional musette, a jazz waltz, and a Latin waltz. These examples will be included in handouts written in both standard notation and tablature.
Melodic Swing and Groove / Gonzalo Bergara In Gonzalo's own words: This workshop will deal with learning how to play what you already know how to play in a much more meaningful way. Everybody spends time learning Django's solos note for note, but the timing seems to never be an issue, and in the end it's all about HOW you play something, more than WHAT you play. This is a difficult and time consuming task, but you will become a different player, a much more musical player after we talk about what we need to work on. 
*Improv Fundamentals: I Got Rhythm / Jack Soref In this series of Improv Fundamentals workshops, Jack Soref will present and walk you through an etude built around the chord progression of a Gypsy Jazz standard. Very hands on, but with your head engaged so you can apply the material elsewhere. A great way to start building idiomatic improvisational vocabulary.
Survey of GJ Improvisation Techniques / Joscho Stephan Joscho Stephan often performs in a trio as the only soloist, a setting that requires great pacing and inventiveness if one is to keep an audience's attention. In this clinic, he'll discuss his personal battery of improvisational techniques and demonstrate how he puts them together to build a satisfying solo on a familiar tune. As time allows, you'll be invited to map out your own options and give it a go.
*Motivic Upcycling / Evan Price 'Upcycling' is the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or a higher value. We may be the first to apply the concept to music, thusly: Can't think of anything to play?  Why not start with just three notes and go from there?  Motivic improvisation can be a great way to make something out of nothing, and can also be highly rewarding and engaging for the listener.  Inspired by musicians from Beethoven to Brubeck, this clinic will give you the tools you need to turn throw-away ideas into art!  Players of all solo instruments welcome.
Questions, Answers and Coaching / Tim Kliphuis As the title suggests, here's your chance to set the agenda with Tim K. He heads for Scotland on the red eye tonight...so last call!
*Harmonic Expansion / Rob Reich What do you play when the tune has, say, F major written for 4 bars?  In this clinic we will explore ways of making your harmonies more exciting.  These concepts can be applied to both your accompaniment and soloing language.  Discussed: passing and neighbor chords, chord substitution, and alternate scale choices.  Recommended for intermediate and advanced players.
*Facilitated Jamming: Open to Django Campers and paid participants, these facilitated jams offer the opportunity for questions, challenges and points of interest to arise where they will most naturally: while playing together. If nothing arises but the pure joy of jamming, so much the better. These are intended for players of intermediate to advanced abilities since, by definition, Level 1 players aren't ready to just dive into a jam. If you think you can at least keep up with the rhythm, though, by all means, join in.

Clinics on Saturday from 4:00 - 5:30
Prime Your Pompe / Aurelien Bouly So you've had a solid intro to the quintessential rhythm guitar style associated with Django Jazz, La Pompe. Maybe you have been pomping away for years. Maybe you feel pretty darn good about your rhythm playing. Then again, maybe you think (or know) you could use a hand getting "that sound" -- so simple yet so elusive for many of us. Luckily for you Aurelien Bouly is still in town for the last clinic on the last full day of Django in June. Don't miss this opportunity to get a hand from him.
*Harmonic Substitution for Soloists / Biel Ballester Of this topic Biel says, "There's easy stuff, but there's really cool stuff on that also!" Now who wouldn't go for a subject that offers both cool and easy? He's refering to the fact that even the simplest melodic lines can be lent new pizzazz simply by using them over different chords. Come explore several applications of this handy insight with a guy who makes everything look easy, and cool.
*Straight-ahead Jazz & Django / Gustav Lundgren Many of the younger GJ players today -- Gypsies and gadjos alike -- are as conversant with the repertoire and jazz stylings of the latter half of the 20th century (not to mention the 21st) as they are with those of Django's heyday. And the twain meet all the time when these players jam, record, or perform. The result is not straight-ahead Jazz free of GJ influence, but neither is it another chorus of Lady Be Good circa 1934. Gustav can't cover all the relevant material in this short clinic, but he invites you into that space if you are interested in exploring it with him.
*Improv Fundamentals: Honeysuckle Rose / Jack Soref In this series of Improv Fundamentals workshops, Jack Soref will present and walk you through an etude built around the chord progression of a Gypsy Jazz standard. Very hands on, but with your head engaged so you can apply the material elsewhere. A great way to start building idiomatic improvisational vocabulary.
Chord Melody Mando / Jamie Masefield The tuning and short scale of mandolin make it a terrific vehicle for chord-melody soloing (i.e., using chords rather than single-note lines to play a lead). Join Jamie for some pointers, some examples from his own playing and some space to try your hands at this rich (but sometimes intimidating) realm of jazz mandolin.
Grappelli's 1937 Minor Swing Solo / Tim Kliphuis If we we had to put one recorded performance of Gypsy Swing into a time capsule for future generations or beings in far-off galaxies, we'd likelyl pick Django and Steph's 1937 performance of Minor Swing. Tim Kliphuis included a transcription and analysis of Grappelli's contribution to that recording in his book/CD set, Gypsy Jazz Violin (published by Mel Bay and available from Djangobooks). Though open to all, this clinic will be primarily oriented toward those who have already been working on this solo. Hit a stuck spot? Want some feedback? Ready to put the polish on it? Here's your chance to work with someone who know's Grappelli as well as anyone. If you are reading this well before Django in June and want to get started on the solo, you'll find what you need (and lots more) on this page of djangoinjune.com.
*Facilitated Jamming: Open to Django Campers and paid participants, these facilitated jams offer the opportunity for questions, challenges and points of interest to arise where they will most naturally: while playing together. If nothing arises but the pure joy of jamming, so much the better. These are intended for players of intermediate to advanced abilities since, by definition, Level 1 players aren't ready to just dive into a jam. If you think you can at least keep up with the rhythm, though, by all means, join in.


Clinics on Sunday from 10 - 11:30
*Small Group Coaching / Denis Chang Similar to our other coaching sessions, but geared toward those of you who already have bands or have the skills to play in a gigging band. How to stand out and create unique arrangements; how to interpret music, create contrast in the rhythm section, band interaction, etc. Denis will use tunes in his own band's repertoire to demonstate these elements -- or those you bring up for consideration. The wider variety of instruments we have for this one, the better.
*The Last Waltz / Rob Reich & Aurelien Bouly In this closing clinic, Rob (accordion) and Aurelien (guitar) will team up to share a couple of their favorite waltes and address whatever is on your agenda in 3/4 time. Bring a Valse you have mastered, or one you could use a hand with. Lead, accompaniment -- it's all sur la table. If it suits you, just come play a couple for fun before you waltz on down the road.
Questions, Answers and Coaching / Joscho Stephan Open Q&A with Joscho before everyone hits the road. Surely you still have something to ask about. If not, just play him a little something and he'll take it from there.
Questions, Answers and Coaching / Biel, Gustav & Martin Open Q&A with our featured Friday night performers. Surely you still have something to ask about. If not, just play them a little something and they'll take it from there.
Questions, Answers and Coaching / Evan Price Open Q&A with Evan before he heads back to the West Coast. Surely you still have something to ask about. If not, just play him a little something and he'll take it from there.

Ready to Register? Surf on over to Tickets and Registration.

Thanks to our Sponsors! (Give 'em a click and a visit)