Hot Club of Olde Town: Django-Style Gypsy Jazz Lights Up French Fest 2025

On Saturday, July 12, the heart of Cherry Creek North swayed to the swinging rhythms of Hot Club of Olde Town, a gypsy jazz quartet that transported festivalgoers straight to the streets of 1930s Paris. As part of Bastille Day: French Fest 2025, this all-ages afternoon concert delivered a thrilling tribute to Django Reinhardt, the father of gypsy jazz, with a setlist that channeled French soul, Romani fire, and American swing.

Composed of Nicolas Busquet and Michael Isabel on guitar, Robert Kerley on accordion, and Dave Ball on upright bass, this Denver-based ensemble wowed the crowd with acoustic virtuosity and historical depth. The quartet focused their performance on the classic French and Romani repertoire, blending swing-era hits and Django standards with traditional Manouche stylings. The music was lively, warm, and danced through the summer air of Fillmore Plaza.

Ahead of the performance, guitarist and vocalist Nicolas Busquet and Executive Director of RMFACC, Sacha Francois joined KUVO Jazz Radio for an interview, offering fascinating insight into the cultural legacy of gypsy jazz. Nicolas is a French native who arrived in Colorado 17 years ago, he initially explored country and western styles before rediscovering his heritage through the music of Django Reinhardt. Listen to the recording of the interview here.

“It’s a fascinating cultural transfer,” Busquet shared on air. “Django took Great American Songbook standards—like ‘All of Me’ or ‘Sweet Georgia Brown’—and infused them into the musical traditions of the Romani people. Now, those songs are part of their heritage too.”

Busquet also highlighted the accordion’s surprising origins in French music. While often associated with musette waltzes, the accordion’s roots trace back to Italian immigrants in France—a powerful example of how music constantly evolves through cultural migration.

About the StyleGypsy jazz, also known as jazz manouche, was pioneered by Django Reinhardt and violinist Stéphane Grappelli in 1930s Paris. Combining French musette, Romani folk traditions, and American swing, the style is characterized by swift guitar picking, rhythmic drive (la pompe), and improvisational flair—all of which Hot Club of Olde Town delivered with finesse.

The performance drew a fun daytime crowds, with attendees dancing, clapping, and lounging in the shade at Café de Paris. Guests young and old tapped their feet and sipped chilled rosé or their drink of choice as the quartet played French classics and Reinhardt’s timeless standards.

French Fest 2025 brought together over 4,000 attendees, 38+ vendors, artist activations, and free live music performances over the course of the July 11–13 weekend. The gypsy jazz set by Hot Club of Olde Town was a musical high point, a joyous homage to French tradition that felt fresh, timeless, and uniquely Denver. Merci, Hot Club of Olde Town, for bringing the soul of Paris to the Mile High City.