Sometimes, disaster strikes in just the right way. The phenomenal guitarist Django Reinhardt honed his dazzling gypsy jazz style while recovering from a fire that lost him the use of two of his fingers (and nearly cost him his leg). The two-fingered playing style he developed actually improved on his already astonishingly speedy and complex music. Likewise, French composer and jazz guitarist Dorado Schmitt (pictured) used his recovery period from a car accident and subsequent eleven-day coma to learn to play the violin. His virtuoso performances with the festival band keep Django jazz cooking for audiences who can’t get enough of this electrifying genre. 1010 Nicollet Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-332-1010; www.dakotacooks.com
Leave a Reply