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Django Reinhardt

The man who became the 1st European jazz giant was born Jean Baptiste Reinhardt on January 24 1910 in a Gypsy encampment at Liberchies Belgium. His father was a traveling entertainer so he lived with his mother and her tribe. His early childhood was spent in and around Liberchies. At age 8 he moved with his mother and her clan to France and settled in a camp outside the gates of old Paris. He first started playing music on an old banjo/guitar at age 12 and soon started playing in cafes and dance halls in Paris accompanying and accordionist. He made his first recordings under the name of Jiango Reinhardt when he was in his late teens.

On November 2nd, 1928 a fire destroyed the caravan that Django Reinhardt shared with his wife together with all their belongings and severely burnt his left hand and his right leg. Despite initial hesitation to seek medical attention on his part and talk of amputating the leg by the first physician he saw, proper care received in a nursing home helped save his leg but permanently scarred his left hand.

During the 18 months spent convalescing he created a new technique in playing the guitar that made up for the extremely limited use he had of his 4th and 5th fingers. In 1934 Django and other musicians including Stéphane Grappelli, whom Django had met during an intermission when both were playing at a local hotel, Louis Vola, Roger Chaput and Django's brother Joseph formed the Quintette du Hot Club de France. They recorded their first jazz sides under that name and these early 78s propelled them into stardom. They created the concept of lead guitar backed by a rhythm guitar and they also used their string instruments to create percussion like sounds since they lacked any percussionists or drummers in their group. After this initial success they continued to record and tour Europe. They started recording material composed by Django himself and American standards. Django did not know how to read and write music and only later in life taught himself how to read and write French. They also played and recorded with expatriate and visiting American musicians such as Coleman Hawkins, Benny Carter, Rex Stewart and Louis Armstrong.

When World War II broke the Quintet was touring England. Django and other returned to Paris but Grappelli stayed in England thus ending the first incarnation of the Quintette du Hot Club de France. Clarinetist Hubert Rostaing was hired to replace Grappelli. Django somehow survived the dark years of Nazi rule when many of his people perished in concentration camps. Jazz was banned under Hitler.

Be-Bop Django and a Whole Lot More

by Marc Cohn
September 25, 2020

A show for you? Of course. We start with twenty-first century music from pianist Andy Adamson, trumpeter Farnell Newton, saxophonist Troy Roberts, and guitarist Jocelyn Gould. Not enough guitar? Well, Joe Pass plays Django Reinhardt, and then Django plays bebop from his last recording session before his death--quite a revelation if the only Django you've heard is his 'Hot Club Swing.' We celebrate the centennials of Dave Brubeck (duets with Paul Desmond) and Carmen McRae (with strings). Then it's off ...

Live Review

Djala Michto At Ketje, Nice

by Martin McFie
September 27, 2019

Djala Michto Quartet Le Ketje Nice, France September 20, 2019 Manouche or Gypsy Jazz started when Django Reinhardt first heard American jazz musicians in France during the interwar years. Django blended gypsy tunes and his compositions with Swing rhythm. In jny:Paris his music reached a zenith in the Hot Club of France quintet which Django led with violinist Stephane Grappelli. Le Ketje (Belgian slang for Street Kid) is a double fronted bar near ...

Radio & Podcasts

Small Groups of the 1930s – Benny Goodman, Django Reinhardt, and John Kirby (1934 - 1941)

by Russell Perry
March 23, 2019

In the last hour we heard from prominent Swing Era soloists Chu Berry, Roy Eldridge, Johnny Hodges and Lester Young, featured in small group settings. Continuing in the small group vein, in this hour we'll hear from the Benny Goodman Trio, Quartet and sextet, Django Reinhardt and le Quintette Du Hot Club de France avec Stéphane Grappelli and the influential, but less well-known sextet led by bassist John Kirby. For U.S. readers, listen here:

Radio & Podcasts

Django Amsterdam

by BIMHUIS
December 17, 2018

Django Amsterdam, an event featuring concerts, jam sessions, workshops and a kids' afternoon, is dedicated to guitarist Django Reinhardt, the originator of gypsy jazz or swing manouche. This style of acoustic swing jazz became part of the Roma and Sinti culture thanks to Django, who's generally considered one of the greatest guitar players of all time. Top players from the international gypsy jazz world united for the fourth edition of Django Amsterdam (26-28 January at BIMHUIS and Kapitein ...

Film Review

Django: A Film As Much About History and Culture as About A Musical Icon

by Victor L. Schermer
February 12, 2018

Django Director: Étienne Comar Milky Way 2017 Django Reinhardt (1910-1953) practically invented jazz guitar. A product of gypsy culture and music, living and working in Paris in the 1930s-40s, he and his group, the Hot Club Quintet, which notably included violinist Stephane Grappelli, brought their own brand of swing to the clubs of Montmartre. American musicians like Coleman Hawkins, Benny Carter, and Duke Ellington were captivated by Reinhardt's playing and, along with his recordings and ...

Building a Jazz Library

Jazz From Around the World: Europe

by Hrayr Attarian
June 29, 2016

Jazz has had a universal appeal since its inception. As soon as the music left its cradle of jny: New Orleans in the early years of the 20th century it quickly spread to all corners of the world. Europeans were among the first non-Americans to embrace the music and place their unique twist on it. Below are 10 classic European jazz recordings. Beginning the list is Mosaic's massive box set of guitarist Django Reinhardt's Swing/HMV sessions. Reinhardt is ...

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Album Review

Django Reinhardt: Four Classic Albums Plus

Read "Four Classic Albums Plus" reviewed by David Rickert

by David Rickert
July 9, 2011

The legend of Django Reinhardt is the stuff of jazz folklore; the nomadic gypsy had limited use of the fingers on his left hand, yet still managed to create blistering solos, all while creating some of the best jazz to come out of Europe. In fact, Reinhardt spawned his own style, and like many a folk hero, there are those who aspired to his level of musicianship yet come up lacking. Reinhardt's music still sounds fresh and ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Django Reinhardt

Source: Michael Ricci
January 23, 2023

All About Jazz is celebrating Django Reinhardt's birthday today!

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Django Reinhardt

Source: Michael Ricci
January 23, 2022

All About Jazz is celebrating Django Reinhardt's birthday today!

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Django Reinhardt

Source: Michael Ricci
January 23, 2021

All About Jazz is celebrating Django Reinhardt's birthday today!

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Django Reinhardt

Source: Michael Ricci
January 23, 2020

All About Jazz is celebrating Django Reinhardt's birthday today!

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Django Reinhardt

Source: Michael Ricci
January 23, 2019

All About Jazz is celebrating Django Reinhardt's birthday today!

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Django Reinhardt

Source: Michael Ricci
January 23, 2018

All About Jazz is celebrating Django Reinhardt's birthday today!

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Django Reinhardt

Source: Michael Ricci
January 23, 2017

All About Jazz is celebrating Django Reinhardt's birthday today!

Recording

French Guitars Unlimited

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
April 14, 2016

In 1966, French guitarist Francis Le Maguer formed a quartet of electric guitars known as the Barclay Stars. The group, named for the French Barclay record label, included Le Maguer, Paul Piguillem, Pierre Cullaz, Raymond Gimenes, Victor Apicella and other players at different points and on different album tracks. At times, the group was expanded to a quintet. By my count, the Barclay Stars released three albums in the late 1960s. The group's first album was called Guitars Unlimited, and ...
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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Django Reinhardt

Source: Michael Ricci
January 23, 2016

All About Jazz is celebrating Django Reinhardt's birthday today!

Video / DVD

Weekend Extra: The MJQ And “Django”

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
August 23, 2015

One of the Modern Jazz Quartet’s signature pieces was “Django,” John Lewis’s homage to DjangoReinhardt (1910-1953). Reinhardt’s guitar playing reflected his upbringing in Gypsy communities in France and in Belgium, where he was born, and he became one of the most influential guitarists of his generation. Lewis captured much of the essence of Reinhardt’s music in a tune that became a modern jazz standard recorded not only by the MJQ but also by dozens of musicians including Ray Brown, Herbie ...
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