The great and unique gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt left behind a musical legacy that continues today.
Django was one of the first major jazz talents to emerge in Europe and has been hailed as one of its most significant exponents. With violinist Stéphane Grappelli he 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 stroke in 1953 at the age of 43.
See my JAZZ AGE volumes here which include The Jazz Age in Paris in the thirties.
Nearly every major popular-music guitarist in the world has been influenced by Reinhardt. Over the last few decades, annual Django festivals have been held throughout Europe and the U.S. with many fine new musicians taking up the mantle of Djangology.
- There are four parts to this Documentary about the great guitarist here
- As short documentary on his life and work here.
- A longer one here.
- A short little clip of him here 1939
- Below are shows on Spotify . You may have to get the app if you dont already. Below Late period Django (45-53)
Below-Late Night Django
Below” Classic period of the late thirties with Stephane Grappelli.
Below: The other great but little known guitarist of the time.
If you appreciate those then you will probably appreciate these ….