DJANGO A GOGO® 2026
GUITAR CAMP:
Tuesday, May 12 - Sunday, May 17, 2026
PRESENTATION
Django a Gogo™ Music Camp is a first-class music program providing musicians of all levels and instruments access to the greatest knowledge and teachers available. The program focuses mainly on the musical style of Django Reinhardt (referred to as "Gypsy Jazz" in the USA). The goal of this camp is for students to learn from all the teachers and performers of the festival in an intimate small group setting, or workshops.
LESS IS MORE!
LESS STUDENTS = MORE QUALITY!
The music “camp” will be limited to 40 guitar students!
Instructor: STEPHANE WREMBEL, ANGELO DEBARRE, SERGE CAMPS, GISMO GRAF, AND MORE…
Past instructors include: Angelo Debarre, Stochelo Rosenberg, Serge Camps, Simba Baumgartner, Brad Boose, Sam Farthing, Hugo Guezbar, Adrien Marco, Josh Kaye, Stephane Wrembel and special guests
We want the students to have a close relationship with the teachers and to receive as much personally relevant information as possible. We want maximum interaction and personal connection between the students and the teachers. We felt 40 students would allow us to maintain a very high level of quality for our camp.
We plan to organize 4 groups of 10. Each group will receive a 2 parts morning classes each day: A 90mn first part focusing on rhythm and improvisation, followed by a 90mn class focusing on a dynamic questions/answer to complete the information given in the class. In the Wednesday and Thursday afternoon there will be a 3h classe with Angelo Debarre for half the students, and with Serge Camps and Frank Anastasio for the other half. Group 1-2 will be with Frank and Serge on the 13, group 3-4 with Angelo Debarre. They will rotate on the 14th.
Friday and Saturday 15-16, there will be a performance class from 3-5pm at Symphony Space for the entire lineup.
The philosophy of our camp —what sets us apart from others— is that no student will be denied access to a specific teacher because he or she is not of a certain level of ability.
It is preferable when registering for the camp to already have a basic knowledge of chords and some soloing in one style or another. However, the camp is open to students of all skill levels. Everyone will get the musical information they need at their own point of development. The teachers and performers have been selected not only for their ability to offer world-class concerts and instruction, but also for their good spirit and their general kindness, patience, and humor.
In addition to offering students the rare opportunity to become deeply immersed in this style of music with some of the greatest teachers and performers in the world, the Django a Gogo Music Camp is fun and entertaining. There will be plenty of coffee, snacks, jams and great times!
THE TOWN
The camp will be happening in the charming town of Maplewood, in the heart of the village. The town is a gem in NJ. It is easily accessible by highway and public transportation. It is a 25 minute drive from NYC, 10 minute drive from Newark Airport, and 30 minutes by train from Penn Station New York. Maplewood is full of restaurants, coffee shops, pubs, stores...all within a block of the venues.
The New York Times had recently published an article about Maplewood "If Brooklyn Were a Suburb". The town is bustling and very hip, the food is excellent, and the whole area (Essex County) is one of the most culturally active in the country.
Students are responsible for their own lodging. There are many Air BNB and VRBO opportunities in Maplewood.
THE VENUE: THE WOODLAND
Maplewood was our first choice for the music camp because of its amenities, accessibility, and artistic vibe. We have been provided with two gorgeous, cozy and extremely functional rooms to host the event. All teaching, master classes, and concerts will be held at THE WOODLAND, a gorgeous historic building with a nice, old-time concert feel.
THE TEACHERS
At the Django a Gogo festival all of the participating musicians are world-class performers, as well as world-class teachers.
STEPHANE WREMBEL
While currently based in Maplewood, Stephane is a native of Fontainebleau, France. He spent ten years perfecting his craft in the Gypsy camps of the Fontainebleau area (home of Django Reinhardt). He then moved to Boston and graduated summa cum laude from Berklee College of Music in 2002. Wrembel has composed music for three of Woody Allen’s blockbusters. “Big Brother” for Vicki Cristina Barcelona and “Bistro Fada”, main theme of Midnight in Paris), were both Academy Award winners. He also composed the entire score for his latest movie “Rifkin’s Festival”.
Stephane was a special guest composer and live performer for the 2012 Academy Awards ceremony where Midnight in Paris was celebrated. In addition, Midnight in Paris won a Grammy Award for Best Soundtrack, of which Stephane was the largest contributor. Wrembel has composed for many films, shorts, and commercials. He has recorded seven albums, and tours with his band worldwide, performing two hundred concerts a year.
GISMO GRAF
Gismo Graf is one of the leading figures of the new generation of Gypsy jazz guitarists. Son of guitarist Joschi Graf, he grew up immersed in the tradition and quickly rose to international fame for his flawless technique and modern flair. Gismo blends deep respect for Django’s legacy with contemporary sensitivity and groove. His energy and charisma shine both on stage and in the classroom. A young master with an old soul.
FRANK ANASTASIO
Legendary bassist Frank Anastasio is a musician of exceptional soul and artistry. His first guitar teachers were his father, Pierre Anastasio, a luthier, and several gypsy guitarists from the Montreuil area. In 1980, he met guitarist Laurent Bajata, who introduced him in 1984 to Serge Camps, the owner of the cabaret “La Roue Fleurie,” a renowned meeting place for manouche and gypsy musicians in Paris. Frank played double bass at the cabaret for over five years alongside Laurent Bajata, Serge Camps, Pierre Camps, Raphael Faÿs, and Angelo Debarre. During this time, they recorded the album "Gypsy Guitars" (Hot Club Records) with Serge Camps and Angelo Debarre, which has since been celebrated as one of the greatest jazz manouche recordings of all time.
Frank has performed in various Parisian cabarets and has collaborated with artists such as Boulou & Elios Ferré, Florin Niculescu, Marc de Loutchek, Petro Ivanovitch, and the Arbat Trio. He recorded two albums with Arbat: “Chantez Tziganes” (Hot Club Records) and "Ilô" (Buda Musique). Additionally, he accompanied the renowned singer Ivan Rebroff during this period. Since 1995, he has been an acoustic and electric bassist, guitarist, and singer in the band “Les Yeux Noirs,” with which he has toured worldwide and recorded six albums: "Izvoara," "Balamouk," and "Live" (EMI), "Tchorba" (Recall-Sony), and "Tiganeasca" (Zig-Zag-Harmonia Mundi). In 2012, Frank became the bassist for Opus 4.
Moreover, Frank is an accomplished master of Gypsy guitar. He is the only musician to have transcribed the entire rhythm guitar parts for Django Reinhardt’s Hot Club, detailing every voicing for each guitar—an extraordinary and unparalleled achievement. Frank will be teaching this material at Django a Gogo 2025!
ANGELO DEBARRE
One of the most revered guitarists in the Gypsy jazz tradition, Angelo Debarre has been a leading voice of the Django Reinhardt legacy for decades. His virtuosic technique, fluid phrasing, and unmistakable touch have captivated audiences around the world. From Paris to New York, his performances are legendary. At Django a Gogo, Angelo brings not just his music but the soul of the style itself. A true master, a living link to Django. Don’t miss the chance to learn from him up close.
SEBASTIEN FELIX
Sébastien Félix is a brilliant guitarist with roots in the manouche community of France. He began playing as a teenager, drawn to Django’s recordings, and developed a style both elegant and powerful. He has performed at major festivals across Europe and the U.S., collaborating with icons like Angelo Debarre and Stochelo Rosenberg. His playing is lyrical, precise, and rich in tradition. Sébastien brings clarity and depth to his teaching. A rising star with deep roots.
SERGE CAMPS
Serge Camps is a pivotal figure of the French jazz manouche scene. As a guitarist, singer, and bandleader, he has performed with the greatest—from Tchavolo Schmitt to Dorado Schmitt. His playing is full of emotion, warmth, and storytelling. Serge embodies the old-school Parisian café spirit that gave birth to so much great music. At Django a Gogo, he shares not only his technique, but his culture and soul. A living encyclopedia of manouche music.
JOSH KAYE
Yeore is from South Korea, where she first picked up the tremolo harmonica at the age of six. Her mother is a piano teacher, so she also learnt piano and other instruments, including trumpet, before focusing on the chromatic harmonica from age 18.
Yeore has released two albums of duets with different pianists.
She moved to France in 2018 after meeting her guitarist husband, Antoine Boyer, with whom she has released an album, Tangram. This contains a great mix of jazz, world music and interpretations of pop songs.
Yeore is currently working on a duo album with her husband, due to released later in 2024, and to be followed by a tour in 2025 to promote the album.
The camp is limited to 40 guitar students!
Guitar Teachers will be rotating the four small groups of 10 everyday. This is to provide students with the opportunity to receive a wide range of information and advice in a very small group setting.
The program schedule is as follows:
Tuesday May 12, 2026
6pm: Welcome party and jam at the Saisons Inn in Maplewood, NJ
Wednesday May 13, 2026
9am-noon: Small group classes
Group 1: Josh Kaye
Group 2: Stephane Wrembel
Group 3: Gismo Graf
Group 4: Sebastien Felix
2pm-5pm: workshops with Angelo Debarre, Serge Camps and Frank Anastasio
Group 1 & 2: Frank Anastasio & Serge Camps
Group 3 & 4: Angelo Debarre
5pm-8pm: Soundcheck/dinner/jam
8pm-9:30pm: Concert at the Woodland “Django New Orleans”
10pm-12am: Jam session at St James Gate Pub
Thursday May 14, 2025
9am-noon: Small group classes
Group 1: Sebastien Felix
Group 2: Josh Kaye
Group 3: Stephane Wrembel
Group 4: Gismo Graf
2pm-5pm: workshops with Angelo Debarre, Serge Camps and Frank Anastasio
Group 1 & 2: Angelo Debarre
Group 3 & 4: Frank Anastasio & Serge Camps
5pm-8pm: Soundcheck/dinner/jam
8pm-9:30pm: Concert at the Woodland “Stephane Wrembel Band & Guests”
10pm-12am: Jam session at St James Gate Pub
Friday May 15, 2026
9am-noon: Small group classes
Group 1: Gismo Graf
Group 2: Sebastien Felix
Group 3: Josh Kaye
Group 4: Stephane Wrembel
3pm-5pm: live performance guitar workshops at Symphony Space
8pm-11:30pm: The Concert “Django a Gogo All Stars at Symphony Space”
Saturday May 17, 2026
9am-noon: Small group classes
Group 1: Stephane Wrembel
Group 2: Gismo Graf
Group 3: Sebastien Felix
Group 4: Josh Kaye
3pm-5pm: live performance guitar workshops at Symphony Space
8pm-11:30pm: The Concert “Django a Gogo All Stars at Symphony Space”
Sunday May 17, 2026
6pm-12am: Farewell Party/Jam/Concert at Barbes in Brooklyn featuring NYC and East Coast bands as well as some of the camp teachers and performers.
Refund policy:
- $250 non refundable after purchase
- no refunds after 30 days of purchase
- no refunds after January 1st 2026
Django A Gogo Festival in Maplewood and NYC
May 12 - May 17, 2026
Tickets for the Woodland in Maplewood, NJ for May 13, May 14, 2026
Tickets for the Symphony Space in NYC for Friday, May 15, 2026
Tickets for the Symphony Space in NYC for Saturday, May 16, 2026
Featuring:
Sebastien Felix - Guitar
Serge Camps - Guitar
Gismo Graf - Guitar
Josh Kaye - Guitar
Stephane Wrembel - Musical Director / Guitar
Angelo Debar - Guitar
Frank Anastasio - Bass
Ari Folman-Cohen - Bass
Nick Anderson – Drums
+ special guest TBA