Paulus Schafer Trio w/ Special Guest Giacomo Smith
Paulus Schafer, world-class Dutch Sinti guitarist, will be joined by guitarist Henry Acker and bassist Greg Loughman along with special guest Giacomo Smith on Clarinet.
Paulus Schäfer (born 1978) is today one of the most talented Gypsy Jazz guitarists from The Netherlands. Born into a Dutch Sinti (Gypsy) community he learned to play the guitar at a very early age. Besides listening to fellow Sinti and records of his idol Django Reinhardt, it was Wasso Grünholz – a legend within the Sinti community – from whom he learned the most. After a short period of time, in which Paulus briefly took over the lead guitar of Jimmy Rosenberg in the Gipsy Kids, he formed the Paulus Schäfer Gipsy Band and recorded his debut album Into the Light in 2002, followed by many concerts and numerous – headlining – invitations to jazz festivals: Sziget Festival Budapest (H), Khamoro Prague (CZ), IGGF Gossington (UK), Django Reinhardt Festival Samois-sur-Seine (FR), Gipsy Festival Anger (FR), International Gipsyfestival (NL), International Guitar Festival Kaluga (RU), Django in June (USA), Copenhagen Jazz Festival (DNK), and many more.
Being a musician on high demand, Paulus is often to be found on stage with other musicians like The Rosenberg Trio, Biréli Lagrène, Stochelo Rosenberg, Al Di Miola, Fapy Lafertin, Stephane Wrembel, Jimmy Rosenberg, Tim Kliphuis, Feigeli Prisor, Andreas Öberg, Olli Soikkeli, Gonzalo Bergara, Ritary Gaguenetti, Jan Kuiper, Jan Akkerman.
Giacomo Smith is an accomplished jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, and composer known for his distinctive sound and mastery of both traditional and contemporary jazz styles. Born in Italy and raised in the United States, Smith developed a deep appreciation for jazz early in life.
Smith’s career spans a wide range of collaborations, from performances with the Kansas Smitty’s House Band, a collective renowned for its innovative approach to classic jazz, to work with some of the most respected musicians in the jazz world. He has performed with Wynton Marsalis, Jamie Cullum, Bireli Lagrene, China Moses, Joe Lovano, Guy Barker, Julian Bliss and many others. In addition to his career as a performer, he has produced albums for Jamie Cullum, Damian Lewis, Zara McFarlane, Jas Kayser, and Joe Stilgoe. His versatility allows him to seamlessly blend the virtuosic techniques of earlier jazz traditions with modern sensibilities, creating a sound that is both nostalgic and forward-looking.
Paulus Schäfer (born 1978) is today one of the most talented Gypsy Jazz guitarists from The Netherlands. Born into a Dutch Sinti (Gypsy) community he learned to play the guitar at a very early age. Besides listening to fellow Sinti and records of his idol Django Reinhardt, it was Wasso Grünholz – a legend within the Sinti community – from whom he learned the most. After a short period of time, in which Paulus briefly took over the lead guitar of Jimmy Rosenberg in the Gipsy Kids, he formed the Paulus Schäfer Gipsy Band and recorded his debut album Into the Light in 2002, followed by many concerts and numerous – headlining – invitations to jazz festivals: Sziget Festival Budapest (H), Khamoro Prague (CZ), IGGF Gossington (UK), Django Reinhardt Festival Samois-sur-Seine (FR), Gipsy Festival Anger (FR), International Gipsyfestival (NL), International Guitar Festival Kaluga (RU), Django in June (USA), Copenhagen Jazz Festival (DNK), and many more.
Being a musician on high demand, Paulus is often to be found on stage with other musicians like The Rosenberg Trio, Biréli Lagrène, Stochelo Rosenberg, Al Di Miola, Fapy Lafertin, Stephane Wrembel, Jimmy Rosenberg, Tim Kliphuis, Feigeli Prisor, Andreas Öberg, Olli Soikkeli, Gonzalo Bergara, Ritary Gaguenetti, Jan Kuiper, Jan Akkerman.
Giacomo Smith is an accomplished jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, and composer known for his distinctive sound and mastery of both traditional and contemporary jazz styles. Born in Italy and raised in the United States, Smith developed a deep appreciation for jazz early in life.
Smith’s career spans a wide range of collaborations, from performances with the Kansas Smitty’s House Band, a collective renowned for its innovative approach to classic jazz, to work with some of the most respected musicians in the jazz world. He has performed with Wynton Marsalis, Jamie Cullum, Bireli Lagrene, China Moses, Joe Lovano, Guy Barker, Julian Bliss and many others. In addition to his career as a performer, he has produced albums for Jamie Cullum, Damian Lewis, Zara McFarlane, Jas Kayser, and Joe Stilgoe. His versatility allows him to seamlessly blend the virtuosic techniques of earlier jazz traditions with modern sensibilities, creating a sound that is both nostalgic and forward-looking.
Jason ANick and Friends!
Festival founder and Kittery Native, Jason Anick, has assembled an all-star group including Henry Acker on guitar, Greg Loughman on bass, and Dallas Vietty on accordion. They will perform a virtuosic blend of Django inspired swing, French Musette Waltzes, and Tango.
Berklee College of Music Professor Jason Anick, has earned a reputation among string players as an imaginative improviser, versatile composer, and insightful educator. Growing up playing fiddle tunes with his family and classical music with local orchestras, he developed a passion for improvisation, which led him to study jazz and classical music at Hartt Conservatory. In 2008, Anick started what would be a 10 year stint touring and recording with Grammy award-winning guitar virtuoso John Jorgenson while still a senior at Hartt Conservatory.
As a band-leader, Anick has launched a variety of musical projects over the years, including the Django Reinhardt inspired group Rhythm Future Quartet, an Americana-inspired Acoustic Trio, and a contemporary jazz ensemble with pianist Jason Yeager. His string of recordings (Sleepless, Tipping Point, United, Travels, Rhythm Future Quartet and Friends, Reverence, Sanctuary) has earned him praise from Downbeat Magazine as a "Rising Star in the world of jazz violin."
Henry Acker is a young powerhouse jazz guitarist who performs both in the style of Django Reinhardt as well as traditional jazz. A child prodigy who began playing at age 8 and performing professionally at age 9, his talent and abilities have developed into nothing short of astonishing. Henry has already shared the stage with jazz greats Bucky Pizzarelli, Frank Vignola, Julian Lage, Bireli Lagrene and Vic Juris. He is a five-time winner of the Downbeat Magazine Student Award for jazz guitar soloist.
Dallas is a world-recognized accordionist living between Allentown, PA, Joshua Tree, CA, and New Orleans, LA. His style comes from his background in the American jazz tradition, alongside study and immersion in the European swing tradition of Django Reinhardt (gypsy jazz) and the French accordionists.
Dallas remains very active on the East Coast concert and festival scene. His groups have performed at TEDx Philly and the Djangoary Festival, among others. As a sideman his performances have taken him to legendary venues including Broadway as the accordionist in Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish (2019–2020), Djangofest Northwest with Rhythm Future Quartet (2019), The Iridium NYC, BB King's Times Square, Dizzy's Club at Lincoln Center, the Philadelphia Kimmel Center, many performances throughout New Orleans, and concert halls in the Auvergne region of France in 2022.
Bassist, composer, and bandleader Greg Loughman has made a name for himself as an “emphatically lyrical” -Scott Albin, JazzTimes, versatile, and sensitive accompanist who plays "with sublime authority" -Raul d’Gama Rose, AllAboutJazz.com and "delivers not only the foundation, but also intriguing, melodic, cleanly stated solos" -Bill Donaldson, Cadence Magazine. Born in Zanesville, OH, Loughman currently lives in Boston, MA, where he earned a Master of Music degree from the Berklee Global Jazz Institute. He has performed and/or recorded with artists including Danilo Perez, Kenny Werner, Jerry Bergonzi, George Garzone, Hal Galper, Mark Murphy, Noah Preminger, and many others.
Berklee College of Music Professor Jason Anick, has earned a reputation among string players as an imaginative improviser, versatile composer, and insightful educator. Growing up playing fiddle tunes with his family and classical music with local orchestras, he developed a passion for improvisation, which led him to study jazz and classical music at Hartt Conservatory. In 2008, Anick started what would be a 10 year stint touring and recording with Grammy award-winning guitar virtuoso John Jorgenson while still a senior at Hartt Conservatory.
As a band-leader, Anick has launched a variety of musical projects over the years, including the Django Reinhardt inspired group Rhythm Future Quartet, an Americana-inspired Acoustic Trio, and a contemporary jazz ensemble with pianist Jason Yeager. His string of recordings (Sleepless, Tipping Point, United, Travels, Rhythm Future Quartet and Friends, Reverence, Sanctuary) has earned him praise from Downbeat Magazine as a "Rising Star in the world of jazz violin."
Henry Acker is a young powerhouse jazz guitarist who performs both in the style of Django Reinhardt as well as traditional jazz. A child prodigy who began playing at age 8 and performing professionally at age 9, his talent and abilities have developed into nothing short of astonishing. Henry has already shared the stage with jazz greats Bucky Pizzarelli, Frank Vignola, Julian Lage, Bireli Lagrene and Vic Juris. He is a five-time winner of the Downbeat Magazine Student Award for jazz guitar soloist.
Dallas is a world-recognized accordionist living between Allentown, PA, Joshua Tree, CA, and New Orleans, LA. His style comes from his background in the American jazz tradition, alongside study and immersion in the European swing tradition of Django Reinhardt (gypsy jazz) and the French accordionists.
Dallas remains very active on the East Coast concert and festival scene. His groups have performed at TEDx Philly and the Djangoary Festival, among others. As a sideman his performances have taken him to legendary venues including Broadway as the accordionist in Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish (2019–2020), Djangofest Northwest with Rhythm Future Quartet (2019), The Iridium NYC, BB King's Times Square, Dizzy's Club at Lincoln Center, the Philadelphia Kimmel Center, many performances throughout New Orleans, and concert halls in the Auvergne region of France in 2022.
Bassist, composer, and bandleader Greg Loughman has made a name for himself as an “emphatically lyrical” -Scott Albin, JazzTimes, versatile, and sensitive accompanist who plays "with sublime authority" -Raul d’Gama Rose, AllAboutJazz.com and "delivers not only the foundation, but also intriguing, melodic, cleanly stated solos" -Bill Donaldson, Cadence Magazine. Born in Zanesville, OH, Loughman currently lives in Boston, MA, where he earned a Master of Music degree from the Berklee Global Jazz Institute. He has performed and/or recorded with artists including Danilo Perez, Kenny Werner, Jerry Bergonzi, George Garzone, Hal Galper, Mark Murphy, Noah Preminger, and many others.