Mike Reinhardt

Mike Reinhardt, born on May 10, 1977, in Forbach, France, is a distinguished guitarist who started his musical journey at the age of 13. With no formal teacher, he found instruction in the records of Bireli Lagrene, Wes Montgomery, George Benson, and of course, the unforgettable Django Reinhardt.

At the age of 15, Mike made his first public appearance performing alongside Dorado Schmitt and Gin Reinhardt. This period saw the formation of his first band, with Gin becoming a trusted collaborator.

In 1995, Mike formed the band Shouka, which led to encounters with various artists such as the violinist Zipflo Reinhardt and accordionist Frédérique Schlik. During this time, he also met Bireli Lagrene, who became a close friend with whom he frequently jammed.

By 1998, Shouka had matured enough to record their first album, “Improviste.” The album, reflecting the spirit of their music, featured Lagrene and saxophonist Franck Wolf in two tracks alongside Mike.

Mike’s passion for guitar led him to appreciate the techniques of Allan Holdsworth and Frank Gambale, while also acknowledging the influences of Jaco Pastorius, Weather Report, Miles Davis, Pat Martino, Mike Stern, Chick Corea, and Charlie Parker.

Also in 1998, he joined accordionist Frédérique Schlick’s quartet as a solo guitarist. Between 1999 and 2000, Mike toured with his guest Zipflo Reinhardt, taking great pleasure in sharing the stage with him.

A memorable moment in Mike’s career happened in 2001 when he was invited on stage during a Didier Lockwood concert in Metz. The following year, Mike participated in the creation of the concert “8 Guitarists” at the Tzigane Festival in Strasbourg, featuring friends like Samson Schmitt, Yorgui Loefler, Dino Mehrstein, and Engé Helmesteter.

In 2002, during Bireli Lagrene and the Gypsy Project concert in Mulhouse, Mike was introduced to the audience by his friend Bireli who invited him to perform a duet with the Gypsy Project and violinist Florin Niculescu.

In 2003, Mike formed a new Quartet at the Citadel Festival in Strasbourg, featuring his pianist cousin Gin Reinhardt, double bass player Jean Luc Miotti, and drummer Didier Hoffman.

Over the years, Mike continued to perform, including a memorable performance at the Gypsy Swing Festival in Angers in 2004, and in 2005, he joined the group “Les Enfants de Django” alongside Yorgui Loeffler and Samson Schmitt, bringing a fresh, modern sound with his Gibson L5 guitar.

Mike received accolades in 2007, winning the audience award at the “Gibson Guitar Competition” at the Montreux Jazz Festival. In 2008, he formed a new trio, performing at various jazz festivals including Juan les Pins and Toulon.

The following years saw Mike performing with his trio, featuring organist Thierry Eliez and drummer François Morin, at numerous jazz festivals. He also celebrated the centenary of Django Reinhardt’s birth in 2010 with a performance in his hometown of Forbach.

In 2011, he released the album “Road Song” with Thierry Eliez and Nicolas Viccaro. For the next few years, he continued performing at various jazz festivals with different artists.

From 2014 to 2023, Mike continued to perform in trio formats at various festivals and venues.