Guitarist Django Reinhardt (1910-1953) was the first non-U.S. born jazz legend. Born to a Gyspy family in Belgium he spent most of his life in France and is often claimed as French. Influenced by the eastern European exotic sound of gypsy music, he was able to combine it with American jazz to establish a unique and original style that rivaled any American jazz musician. Together with violinist Stephane Grappelli, they formed what would be the most important European jazz group prior to 1950, the Quintet of the Hot Club of France in 1934. Originally starting out on the banjo he switched to the guitar as a teenager. He was burned in a fire when he was 18, which resulted in a disfigured left hand. It was thought that he would never play again.
DJango Reinhardt - Episode 1
Compositon | Artist | Album | Year |
That Moaning Trombone | James Reese Europe 369th Hell Fighters Band | | 1919 |
Hijaz Tsiftelli | | Gypsy Music of Constantinople | ca. 1995 |
Solaeres | Rodrigo | Gypsy Passions: The Flamenco Guitar | 1993 |
Two Guitars | Zoltan and His Gypsy Ensemble | Gypsy Music from Romania and Hungary | 1994 |
The Wild Dog | Eddie Lang and Joe Venuti | | 1928 |
Prelude (Rachmaninov) | Eddie Lang | | 1927 |
Tiger Rag | Quintet of the Hot Club of France | | 1934 |
Lady Be Good | Quintet of the Hot Club of France | | 1934 |
Django Reinhard - Episode 2
There were a great number of American jazz musicians travelling to Paris in the 1930’s including Benny Carter, Bill Coleman, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Coleman Hawkins, Arthur Briggs, Dickie Wells, and many others. His 1934 recording of Dinah attracted much attention and lead to many opportunities for him to record with the Quintet and a variety of other groups in Paris. The recordings from the mid-1930’s represent some of his best work.
Composition | Artist | Year |
I Can’t Give You Anything But Love | Quintet of the Hot Club of France | 1936 |
Dinah | Quintet of the Hot Club of France | 1934 |
Djangology | Quintet of the Hot Club of France | 1935 |
Crazy String | Michel Warlop Orchestra | 1936 |
Mabel | Quintet of the Hot Club of France | 1937 |
Appel Direct | Quintet of the Hot Club of France | 1938 |
Tea for Two | Django Reinhardt | 1937 |
St. Louis Blues | Quintet of the Hot Club of France | 1937 |
Django Reinhardt - Episode 3
Composition | Artist | Year |
I'll See You in My Dreams | Django Reinhardt Trio | 1939 |
Bolero | Quintet of the Hot Club of France | 1937 |
Minor Swing | Quintet of the Hot Club of France | 1937 |
Minor Swing | Django Reinhardt w/Stephan Grappelli | 1949 |
Echoes of Spain | Django Reinhardt | 1939 |
Nuages | Quintet of the Hot Club of France | 1940 |
Nuages | Django Reinhardt w/Stephan Grappelli | 1948 |
Django Reinhardt - Episode 4 - The War Years
Compositon | Artist | Year |
Les Yeux Noirs | Georges Boulanger and his Orchestra | ca. 1933 |
Les Yeux Noirs | Quintet of the Hot Club of France | 1940 |
Rhythm Future | Quintet of the Hot Club of France | 1940 |
Limehouse Blues | Django Reinhardt Big Band | 1940 |
Nympheas | Django Reinhardt Big Band | 1942 |
Feerie | Django Reinhardt Big Band | 1942 |
Douce Ambiance | Django Reinhardt and Quintet of the Hot Club | 1943 |
Belleville | Django Reinhardt with Stephane Grappelli | 1946 |
Django Reinhardt - Episode 5 - The Bebop Years
Composition | Artist | Year |
Babik (Bi-Bop) | Django Reinhardt and His Quintet of the Hot Club | 1946 |
Del Salle | Django Reinhardt and His Quintet of the Hot Club | 1946 |
Les Yeux Noirs | Django Reinhardt | 1947 |
Impromptu | Django Reinhardt | ca. 1950 |
Anouman | Django Reinhardt | 1953 |