Tomoko Iwamoto and Jazz Manouche Friends Presents a Tribute to Django

Friday, February 23, at 7:30pm. Join jazzy violinist Tomoko Iwamoto and jazz manouche friends, Jack Sofer, Jameson Stewart, and Greg Toro as they bring you a tribute to Django Reinhardt. Tomoko Iwamoto has been in the Boston jazz scene for more than 30 years. Being a "jazzy" violinist with a strong classical background, Tomoko expands her repertoire in jazz, rock, pop, and world music, demonstrating a great sense of improvisation. She toured with Hypnotic Clambake led by accordionist Maury Rosenberg and studied Jazz Composition and Arranging at Berklee College of Music as a scholarship student. She was inspired by and composed for Turtle Island String Quartet and also performed with J-Way String Quartet. Then, she encountered and fell in love with music by Django Reinhardt & Stéphane Grappelli. She formed the Gypsy Jazz quartet 440 and has been performing concerts in the New England area with original arrangements and her own compositions. Jack Soref grew up in Madison, WI, later becoming a Boston-based Guitarist, fascinated by the music of Django Reinhardt. That Fascination has taken him onto festival and concert stages, and venues all throughout the USA, Canada, Scotland, and France. Jack is a mainstay of Django Festivals Django in June, where he has taught since 2009, and the Midwest Gypsy Swing Fest, where he has performed as recently as 2023. Jameson Stewart is a guitarist and multi-instrumentalist based in Boston. Educated in California at Modesto Junior College’s music program, he brings his guitar stylings to life performing with the Jack Soref Quartet, The Hot Club of Boston, as well as his own group. Gregory Toro was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. He fell in love with music and rhythm as a child, and at the age of ten joined a neighborhood steel band that played calypso and church music on weekends. He later took up guitar and piano but found his true calling as a bass player when he was sixteen years old. Greg studied electric and upright bass and jazz composition at Berklee College of Music, where he had the opportunity to collaborate with musicians from many different countries and cultures. $25. For tickets visit www.cultural-center.org or call 508-394-7100. Cultural Center of Cape Cod, 307 Old Main St., South Yarmouth.