Guitarist Stephane Wrembel bringing unearthed Django Reinhardt compositions to Rochester

Stephane Wrembel, a favorite of Rochester audiences, is best known for his admiring homages to Belgian jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt.

On Saturday, Feb. 19, at the Lovin' Cup in Henrietta, Wrembel will take his love of Reinhardt to a new level, with performances of little known solo pieces from the guitarist. In late 2019, months before the pandemic froze the world, Wrembel released the album "Django l'impressionniste" (or Django, the Impressionist) with meticulously faithful versions of 17 of the largely unknown compositions.

He has since performed the pieces at Carnegie Hall, and, last year, he doubled down on the Reinhardt appreciation with a book outlining the compositions for the first time. (As well, Wrembel provided compositions for Woody Allen's latest film, "Rifkin's Festival," music that was completed pre-pandemic.)

"It’s a very unique repertoire, but of course you can feel Django," Wrembel said of "Django l'impressionniste" in a telephone interview from his New Jersey home. "It's like classical music of the guitar, but it's not classical guitar."

Reinhardt, a dashing movie star-like figure, was known for a style that seemed effortlessly fluid, as the tempo of his musical choices rarely seemed to match his relaxed fingerwork. During the early and mid-20th century, Reinhardt concocted a stew of sometimes delicate, sometimes fiery American jazz and European flavors.

Popular in French clubs, Reinhardt built a huge following with his works, and he influenced and inspired generations of musicians including B.B. King. Django himself had been influenced by pioneer American blues guitarists like Lonnie Johnson.

Mining for gold

A French native, Wrembel, now 48, has been a fan since, as an older teen, he first heard others perform the music at a festival.

"It was very new to me," Wrembel said. "I immediately fell in love with his music."

"Django l'impressionniste" was a very different undertaking for Wrembel, who worked on note-for-note versions of the songs that he wanted to be infused with Reinhardt's spirit and not simple mimicry, (though any attempted mimicry of Reinhardt music could never be simple).

"The world of jazz is so highly based on improvisation, but these are more composed," Wrembel said. "The people who play jazz are less inclined to learn something from beginning to end."

Before his Carnegie Hall performance, Wrembel spent eight months perfecting one piece, entitled "Improvisation Number One."

"I felt like this piece was doing something to me," he said. "I thought, 'Wow, this is amazing. There is something special in there.' "

The 17 selections are "like the essence of Django's playing," Wrembel said. Some of the choices could only be found on recordings that were scratchy and difficult for the ear to discern. But Wrembel persisted, treating each of them as if he were mining for gold and, finally, discovering the nuggets.

"I started digging, and I learned them one-by-one," he said.

Jazz Fest regular

Wrembel has become a frequent visitor to Rochester, with Jazz Festival appearances and performances at local establishments. His first time was 2002 — two decades ago now — and he plans to keep returning.

"Rochester is my favorite town in America," he said. "I have such fond memories of Rochester and we kept coming back. I really really love the vibe, I always felt at home in Rochester, even more than anywhere else in America.

"I like the size of it. There is space to drive and to navigate." Yet, he said, the cultural and musical options are ample, as he reels off local names — House of Guitars, Bop Shop, Record Archive, Lovin' Cup.

At the latter establishment, Lovin' Cup, fans of Wrembel and Reinhardt will be able to hear performances that they, for now, can not hear live anywhere else. Wrembel hopes that changes.

"I hope some other guitarists are going to pick it up. I'm feeling kind of alone."

Wrembel and a jazz combo with local musicians — guitarists Bobby Henrie and Josh Assad and upright bass player Brian Williams — will also perform at a Sunday brunch on Feb. 20.

Contact Gary Craig at gcraig@gannett.com or at 585-258-2479. Follow him on Twitter at gcraig1.

If you go

What: Stephane Wrembel performance

Where: Lovin' Cup, 300 Park Point Drive, Henrietta

When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19; noon on Sunday, Feb. 20

Tickets: $25 in advance at lovincup.com.and $30 the day of the Feb. 19 show; $20 in advance at lovincup.com.and $25 the day of the Feb. 20 show

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Guitarist Stephane Wrembel bringing unique Reinhardt compositions to Rochester