PUTNEY — Internationally acclaimed guitarist and composer Stéphane Wrembel returns to Next Stage Arts on Saturday, June 27, at 7:30 p.m., bringing his world-class ensemble to Putney for an evening of virtuosic musicianship, original compositions, and genre-defying jazz.
Widely regarded as one of the world’s foremost guitarists, Wrembel has built an international reputation for his dazzling fusion of jazz, Gypsy swing, world music, and contemporary improvisation. Born in Fontainebleau, France, and now based in the United States, Wrembel has captivated audiences around the globe with a style that is both technically brilliant and deeply expressive. Rolling Stone called him “…a revelation.”
A prolific composer as well as performer, Wrembel’s original music has reached audiences far beyond the concert hall. His compositions “Bistro Fada” and “Big Brother” were featured in Woody Allen films, including Midnight in Paris and Vicky Cristina Barcelona. His contribution to the Midnight in Paris soundtrack helped earn the Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack. In 2012, acclaimed film composer Hans Zimmer invited Wrembel to perform as part of the Academy Awards All-Star Band alongside artists including Esperanza Spalding, Pharrell Williams, and Sheila E.
Over the course of a career spanning more than 20 albums, Wrembel has continually expanded the possibilities of modern Jazz Manouche. His 2024 release Triptych, recorded with pianist Jean-Michel Pilc, received widespread critical praise from DownBeat, Guitar Player, Acoustic Guitar Magazine, and New York Jazz Record. His latest recording, Django New Orleans II: Hors-Série (2025), blends New Orleans rhythms and brass traditions with his signature Gypsy jazz-inspired sound, while also marking his debut as a vocalist.
Wrembel’s collaborators and performance history reflect the breadth of his musical vision. He has shared stages with Elvis Costello, Patti Smith, The Roots, John Scofield, Medeski Martin & Wood, and Sam Bush, and has appeared on NPR’s Mountain Stage and WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour.
“I just play my own music,” says Wrembel. “It’s not only for the rock music lover, the Django Reinhardt lover or jazz lover. It’s for the music lover.”
Joining Wrembel in Putney will be an exceptional ensemble featuring Adrien Chevalier on violin, Ari Folman-Cohen on bass, and Nick Anderson on drums.
The Aquarian praised Wrembel as “the greatest acoustic guitarist alive,” while the San Diego Union-Tribune wrote that “Stéphane Wrembel repeatedly soars whether performing his own music or classics by Django Reinhardt and Duke Ellington.”
Stéphane Wrembel performs Saturday, June 27, at 7:30 p.m. at Next Stage Arts, 15 Kimball Hill, Putney. Doors open at 6:45 p.m. Tickets are $22 in advance, $26 at the door, and $10 for the livestream. Advance tickets and information are available at nextstagearts.org.
