The Django Festival All-Stars 2013

A standout performance on the festival’s last day was by the Django Festival All-Stars, from France, who in their first appearance at Newport proved to be a crowd favorite and a top candidate for the hardest-swinging group at the fest. The quintet, now on a national tour, is modeled after the Hot Club of France, including two guitars (Samson Schmitt on lead and DouDou Cuillerier on rhythm and scat vocals), violin (Pierre Blanchard), button accordion (Ludovic Beier) and bass (Brian Torff, the sole American), with the occasional addition of a guest, pianist Peter Beets from Holland.