Stephane Wrembel - Django New Orleans II: Hors Série (2025)

The album, titled Hors-Série ("special edition"), was initiated by a friend, Francisco Romero, who offered to finance it on the condition that the performer record eight specific tunes and compose two original pieces based on themes he provided. These themes included the character of Holden Caulfield from The Catcher in the Rye and the dynamics of a triangular love relationship. The band Django New Orleans was chosen to bring the project to life.

The album features well-known compositions such as Astor Piazzolla's "Libertango" (with lyrics from the Grace Jones version), Édith Piaf's "La vie en rose" and "La foule," and the theme from the Swedish tale "Karl-Bertil Jonssons julafton." Other tracks include Serge Gainsbourg's "La Javanaise" and "Le poinçonneur des Lilas," with "La Javanaise" being recorded spontaneously with just vocalists, without the full band, influenced by the studio atmosphere and a glass of whiskey. The album also features Antônio Carlos Jobim's "Waters of March" and the New Orleans-flavored song "Nature boy."

The album concludes with two original compositions: "Holden Caulfield," which explores the protagonist's character duality, and "Ménage à trois," which uses a waltz rhythm to reflect the dynamics of a love triangle. The recording process was marked by incredible energy and spiritual joy.

Stephane Wrembel — guitar
Dion Berardo — guitar
Adrien Chevalier — violin
Sarah King — vocals
Nick Driscoll — saxophone/clarinet/flute
Joe Boga — trumpet
Steven Duffy — sousaphone
Scott Kettner — drums/pandeiro
David Langlois — washboard/percussion

Tracklist:
1-1 Stephane Wrembel - Libertango [4:43]
1-2 Stephane Wrembel - La vie en rose [4:40]
1-3 Stephane Wrembel - La Foule [4:17]
1-4 Stephane Wrembel - Karl-Bertril Jonssons julafton [2:35]
1-5 Stephane Wrembel - La Javanaise [2:39]
1-6 Stephane Wrembel - Waters of March [3:23]
1-7 Stephane Wrembel - Le poinçonneur des Lilas [2:43]
1-8 Stephane Wrembel - Nature Boy [3:34]
1-9 Stephane Wrembel - Holden Caulfied [4:26]
1-10 Stephane Wrembel - Ménage à trois [5:30]