A legendary Romani-French guitarist, Django Reinhardt was the first hugely influential jazz figure to emerge from Europe and the person most credited with developing the style known as gypsy jazz, jazz manouche, or hot club jazz. Reinhardt came up with a unique way of propelling the acoustic guitar into the front line of a jazz combo in the days before amplification became widespread. He would spin joyous, arcing, marvelously inflected solos above the thrumming groundwork of two rhythm guitars and a bass, with cohortStephane Grappelli’s elegantly gliding violin serving as the perfect foil. His harmonic concepts were startling for their time — making a direct impression uponCharlie ChristianandLes Paul, among others — and he was an energizing rhythm guitarist behindGrappelli, pushing their groups into a higher gear. Not only did Reinhardt put his stamp upon jazz, his string band music also had an impact upon the parallel development of Western swing, which eventually fed into the wellspring of what is now called country music. Although he could not read music, Reinhardt composed several winsome, highly original tunes withGrappelliand on his own, like “Daphne,” “Nuages,” and “Manoir de Mes Reves,” as well as mad swingers like “Minor Swing” and the ode to his record label of the 1930s, “Stomping at Decca.” As the lateRalph Gleasonsaid about Django’s recordings, “They were European and they were French and they were still jazz.”

A 1-LP 140gm pressing bringing together the last sessions of Django Reinhardt for Decca and Blue Star, recorded in Paris from January to April 1953, shortly before his passing at the age of 43. This is remastered from original master tapes and presented in a single sleeve with new liner notes. (via Label)

Label: Decca
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Compilation
Country: Germany
Released: 2024
Genre: Jazz, Swing

File under: Audiophile Jazz