EC-CHAP Jazz Series: Django Reinhardt Birthday Bash at The Packing House with The Luke Hendon Combo
Tickets $25.00+Fees in Advance (ONLINE) / $30.00 at the Door
EC-CHAP MEMBER DISCOUNTS & FREQUENT FLYER PROGRAM AVAILABLE
SPECIAL NOTE: EC-CHAP is excited to have Luke Hendon return to The Packing House stage. Luke brings his own original qualities to the Gypsy Jazz tradition of Django Reinhardt. What makes THIS evening extra special is Luke shares his Gypsy Jazz chops on Django Reinhardt’s Birthday - January 23, 1910! Come see and hear this exceptional musician on a very special night!
Veteran guitarist LUKE HENDON and his group will perform at The Packing House on January 23rd, 2026, celebrating the anniversary of Django Reinhardt’s birthday. You can expect to hear some Gypsy jazz standards in Reinhardt’s honor, but also original, modern music that gives nods to his influence. Reinhardt was an innovator of his time and the group will strive to bring that spirit into the present.
Hendon has studied Django Reinhardt and Gypsy Jazz around the world and is well versed in the techniques and nuances in the style. Hendon has an album called Silk and Steel, that he recorded shortly after studying in the Netherlands with Sinti guitarists, Paulus Schafer and Fapy Lafertin.
The album was Hendon’s initial modern take on Django’s style. Jazz Scene magazine says that it is “beautifully performed and every note counts.” Jazz Profiles Says it’s “an homage to Django’s influence accompanied by Luke’s statement of independent creativity.” And The New York City Jazz Record states that “Hendon’s take on the style is to inject some very modern energy along with judiciously placed non-jazz undertones. That’s the crucial difference between maintaining and enriching a legacy.”
Hendon has performed around the world, opened for legendary acts like Al Green, Sun Ra, and Los Lobos, composed and recorded for TV and film, worked with dance ensembles, cruise ships, theatre companies and bands. He founded Goodfoot, which took the Dallas, Texas area by storm in the nineties. He’s also been a session guitar player on pop, funk, blues, folk, rock, jazz, and world music in a plethora of settings.
In his acoustic project, Luke Hendon cooks up a gumbo of old and new. He playfully mixes modern influences and traditional gypsy jazz with virtuosity and style. In other arenas Luke has worked professionally as a composer, a session musician and guitarist in many different styles of music.
"This a must have for those with the heart of a gypsy." -George Harris, Jazz Weekly
"Hendon’s take on the style is to inject some very modern energy along with judiciously placed non-jazz undertones. That’s the crucial difference between maintaining and enriching a legacy." -Mark Keresman, New York City Jazz Record
"Django's music always brings a smile to the lips and transports one back 1930s France, and the best compliment here is that Hendon's music does the same, but also with a foot planted firmly in the here and now in this too short, extremely well done recording." -Budd Kopman, All About Jazz
Hendon is excited to return to the packing house and hopes to stretch out even more, exploring the spirit of innovation while celebrating the birthday of one of his heroes, Django Reinhardt.
Luke Hendon
Django Reinhardt
Jean Reinhardt known by his nickname Django, was a Belgian jazz guitarist and composer born January 23, 1910. He was one of the first major jazz talents to emerge in Europe - with violinist Stéphane Grappelli, Reinhardt formed the Paris-based Quintette du Hot Club de France in 1934. The group was among the first to play jazz that featured the guitar as a lead instrument.
Reinhardt recorded in France with many visiting American musicians, including Coleman Hawkins and Benny Carter, and briefly toured the United States with Duke Ellington's orchestra in 1946. He died suddenly of a brain hemorrhage in 1953 at the age of 43. His most popular compositions have become standards within gypsy jazz, including "Minor Swing", "Daphne", "Belleville", "Djangology", and "Nuages".
Join us for an amazing evening of acoustic jazz original works and arrangements by this outstanding artist! This program is hosted by the "Eastern Connecticut Center for History, Art, and Performance" (EC-CHAP). Doors 6:30pm / Show 7:30pm. Tickets $25.00 (+fees) Advance (Online) / $30.00 Door.
Soft drinks and snacks available. We are pleased to offer our exclusive "BYOB&F" TM model - Bring Your Own Beverage & Food (Wine & Beer Only - I.D. Required). You can also bring your paid ticket to Willington Pizza House (or WP Too) for eat-in or take-out the night of the show and receive 15% off your meal purchase. Ask for "The Packing House" pizza! Click HERE for secret recipe.
For more information, please visit: call 518-791-9474.