Evolution
Motéma Music
February 13, 2026
- Rire Avec Charlie (Samson Schmitt)
- El Destino (Ludovic Beier)
- Casse Noisette (Samson Schmitt)
- Balkanic Dance (Pierre Blanchard)
- Around Toots (Ludovic Beier)
- Lovely Wife (Samson Schmitt)
- Swing And Ready (Ludovic Beier)
- Nothing But Kind (Pierre Blanchard)
- Sunshine In My Heart (Samson Schmitt)
- Piazza Italia (Samson Schmitt)
- Dorado’s Smile (Pierre Blanchard)
- Stenli (Samson Schmitt)
Samson Schmitt – lead guitar
Ludovic Beier – accordion, accordina
Pierre Blanchard – violin
Francko Mehrstein – rhythm guitar
Antonio Licusati – bass
Executive Producer: Douglas P. Reetz
Produced by Pat Philips
All songs arranged by the Django Festival Allstars
Out Now
Recorded July 9th and 10th, 2024
at Teaneck Sound, Teaneck, NJ
Recording/mixing/mastering: Dave Kowalski
Samson Schmitt plays Mauro Freschi Guitars
Django Festival Allstars use John Pearse Strings
Art Direction: Pat Philips, Jana Herzen
Graphic Design: Evan Pittson
Photography: R.R. Jones
Project Manager: Charnett Max Moffett
Reviews
DOWNBEAT
“Gypsy Jazz for the 21st Century”
TÉLÉRAMA
“Keeping the flame of Gypsy jazz alive.” …“While no Django compositions appear on this new album, his spirit is everywhere: the wild energy of Gypsy virtuosity… the fraternity of the gathering in a circle, the mixture of tenderness and optimism, of nostalgia and indolence that Django brought to jazz.”
ALL ABOUT JAZZ
4-Stars! “Luminous… reaffirming that Manouche jazz, when played with conviction and humility, remains one of the most vital in modern acoustic music..”