An exhilarating evening of romantic acoustic swing jazz guitar featuring a superb ensemble paying tribute to the legendary guitarist Django Reinhardt.

The Hot Club of Baltimore performs inspired arrangements of the Django Reinhardt repertoire, French waltzes, and Trad Jazz. The ensemble boasts a variety of configurations including an instrumental trio of two guitars and upright bass, a classic quintet with violin, a late 40's instrumentation adding piano, drums, and horns, and a Django Big Band, which emulates the sound of the early 50's when Reinhardt performed with Duke Ellington. The group often features captivating vocalist Alexis Tantau who sings in her native Occitan language as well as songs in French and English by Edith Piaf, Eartha Kitt, Charles Trenet, Maxine Sullivan, Jacques Dutronc, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, and Henri Salvador.

Guitarist/composer Michael Joseph Harris is principal guitarist for two Gypsy jazz style bands currently based in Baltimore and he is the founder and artistic director of Django Jazz Fest which went national in its 14th year adding stops in Berkeley CA, Richmond VA, Washington DC, Chicago, Wisconsin, Oregon, and more. Django Jazz Fest has allowed Michael to feature top players from all over the world and bring this incredibile music to new audiences in the United States. Over the years Harris has become an ambassador of the authentic Django Reinhardt sound which showcases virtuosic technique and the unmistakable and remarkably inviting romantic musical style that Reinhardt began in 1930’s Paris.

In 2012, after years of performing mostly Brazilian and Latin influenced original music, guitarist Michael Joseph Harris began studying and playing the music of legendary guitarist Django Reinhardt which led to the creation of The Hot Club of Baltimore later that same year. After a surge of Django-inspired composing in 2013, Harris formed the band Ultrafaux Ensemble in 2014 to perform his original songs in the style of Gypsy Jazz. In 2015, Harris founded and remained Artistic Director for the popular Charm City Django Jazz Fest, the only annual Jazz festival in Baltimore, Maryland since 2016. Michael was named one of the top musicians in Baltimore by Baltimore Style Magazine and he was featured in The Baltimore Sun and Baltimore Magazine.

This edition of the Hot Club of Baltimore ensemble includes: Michael Joseph Harris (guitar); Kris Belgica (guitar); Matty Metcalf (accordion); Eli Bishop (violin); Russ Hanchin of Django Tango (guitar); and Joe Bussey (bass).

Jean Reinhardt (23 January 1910 – 16 May 1953), known by his Romani nickname Django, was a Belgian-born Romani jazz guitarist and composer who lived most of his life in France. He was one of the first major jazz talents to emerge in Europe and has been hailed as one of its most significant exponents. With violinist Stéphane Grappelli, Reinhardt formed the Paris-based Quintette du Hot Club de France in 1934. The group was among the first to play jazz that featured the guitar as a lead instrument. Reinhardt recorded in France with many visiting American musicians, including Coleman Hawkins and Benny Carter, and briefly toured the United States with Duke Ellington's orchestra in 1946. Reinhardt's most popular compositions have become jazz standards, including "Minor Swing", "Daphne", "Belleville", "Djangology", "Swing '42", and "Nuages". [Wikipedia]

With only 107 seats, shows at Révéler are intimate and immersive. A romantic venue with exquisite sound and dreamy vibes, Révéler offers a unique selection of cocktails, wines, beers, bubbles, and non-alcoholic beverages. Our kitchen delivers small plates crafted with care.