This is a rather wonderful
two-disc set of jazz from Grappelli, Reinhardt
and their band.
The stories of the two main
musicians featured read something like fairy
tales, lending an air of magic to the whole
scenario. Django Reinhardt (1910-1953) was
a gypsy guitarist - whom Duke Ellington called
"Europe’s pre-eminent jazz instrumentalist
of all time". Born in Belgium, the son
of an acrobat and a clown, he taught himself
banjo-guitar - an instrument given to him
when he was 12 - and swiftly became a phenomenal
player. Disaster struck at the age of 18,
when he was caught in a fire and his hands
were maimed. Not to be defeated, he devised
a new technique for playing despite the fact
that he could barely use some of his fingers.
Stéphane Grappelli
(1908-1997), meanwhile, was born in Paris
to an impoverished Italian – his mother died
when he was young. He was also given his instrument
at the age of 12 and worked his way up, playing
in cinema pits and busking, until he eventually
got a place in the Paris Conservatoire to
study harmony.
The music on this disc is
therefore an amazing blend of carefree and
unrestrained gypsy flair, with Reinhardt giving
little regard to the strictures and rules
of music, and a more formal approach from
classically trained Grappelli. Here, the two
are joined by guitarists Pierre "Baro"
Feet, Roger Chaput and Django’s brother Joseph,
with Louis Vola on double-bass. They are joined
by Freddy Taylor as the vocalist in After
You’ve Gone and Shine.
The first appearance of the
quintet was in December 1934 at a "Hot
Club de France" concert, held at the
Ecole Normale Jazz by the society that the
music critic Hughes Panassie had established
for such concerts. This was revolutionary
music – suave yet thrilling, and the quintet
immediately became extremely popular. Although
the group members went their own ways a little
during the war, Grappelli and Reinhardt got
back together for some more concerts and recordings
afterwards, making their final recordings
in 1949.
The disc includes a variety
of works by a range of composers from Fats
Waller, and Duke Ellington through to Gershwin
and Cole Porter. It includes both the unfamiliar
and new works by Grappelli and Reinhardt,
as well as old favourites, such as Limehouse
Blues, Charleston, You’re driving
me crazy, I've got rhythm, and
Ain't Misbehavin’. It also features
(as the first track) Dinah – the first
recording they made together, Djangology,
Reinhardt’s own composition that became the
quintet’s signature tune. We also hear the
incredible Mystery Pacific, with its
brilliant opening depiction of a steam train.
The disc concludes, appropriately enough,
with Reinhardt’s best-loved composition, Nuage,
here beautifully played.
The performances in general
are pretty amazing. Although the sound is
slightly harsh, it doesn’t really detract
too much, and we have a nice warm tone from
Grappelli, and some pleasingly chunky chords
from the quintet. The band has a stunning
sense of rhythm, and the performances include
some very virtuosic playing. Perhaps the loveliest
touch is the fact that the force of personalities
come through, with an urbane note to Grappelli’s
playing and some wildness from Reinhardt.
Em Marshall
A stunning blend of rhythm, urbanity and
wildness ... see Full Review
FULL TRACK-LIST
CD 1
Harry AKST
Dinah (1925) [2:35]
Nick La ROCCA, Edwin
B. EDWARDS, Tony SPARGO, Larry SHIELDS
Tiger Rag (1917) [2:32]
George GERSHWIN
Oh, Lady, Be Good! (1924) [2:51]
Maurice SIGLER, Al
GOODHART, Al HOFFMAN
I Saw Stars (1934) [2:18]
Doc DAUGHERTY, Ellis
REYNOLDS
I'm Confessin' (1930) [2:54]
Josef MYROV
Blue Drag (1932) [2:52]
Abner SILVER
Chasing Shadows (1935) [2:55]
Walter DONALDSON
I've Had My Moments (1934) [2:57]
Django REINHARDT,
Stephane GRAPPELLI
Djangology (1935) [2:55]
W.C. HANDY
St. Louis blues (1914) [3:25]
George GERSHWIN
I Got Rhythm (1930) [2:55]
Spencer WILLIAMS,
Jack PALMER
I've Found A New Baby (1926) [3:01]
Will HUDSON
Moonglow (1934) [2:58]
Django REINHARDT,
Stephane GRAPPELLI
Oriental Shuffle (1936) [2:37]
Turner LAYTON, Henry
CREAMER
After You've Gone (1918) [3:05]
Philip BRAHAM
Limehouse Blues (1921) [2:43]
Django REINHARDT,
Stephane GRAPPELLI
Swing Guitars (1936) [2:24]
Ford DABNEY, Lew
BROWN, Cecil MACK
Shine (1924) [2:54]
Hoagy CARMICHAEL
In The Still Of The Night (1932) [3:04]
Django REINHARDT,
Stephane GRAPPELLI
Sweet Chorus (1936) [2:41]
Jimmy McHUGH
Exactly Like You (1929) [2:28]
James P. JOHNSON,
Cecil MACK
The Charleston (1923) [2:49]
Walter DONALDSON
You're Driving Me Crazy (1930) [2:51]
Django REINHARDT,
Stephane GRAPPELLI
Tears (1937) [2:33]
Duke ELLINGTON
Solitude (1934) [3:09]
Fats WALLER, Harry
BROOKS
Ain't Misbehavin' (1929) [2:53]
Art HICKMAN
Rose Room (1917) [2:43]
Le Quintette du Hot Club de France: Stephane
Grappelli (violin); Django Reinhardt, Joseph
Reinhardt, Roger Chaput (1 -6) Pierre "Baro"
Ferret (7-9) (guitars); Louis Vola (double-bass)
Recorded in Paris, 28th December 1934 (1
– 4); Paris, 6th March 1935 (5); Paris, late
April 1935 (6); Paris, 11th September 1935
(7 – 9).
Stephane Grappelly and his Hot Four: Stephane
Grappelli (violin); Django Reinhardt, Joseph
Reinhardt, Pierre "Baro" Ferret (guitars);
Louis Vola (10, 11),Tony Rovira (12,13) (double-bass)
Recorded in Paris, 30th September 1935 (10);
Paris, 11th October 1935 (11); Paris, 21st
October 1935 (12,13).
Le Quintette du Hot Club de France.
Stephane Grappelli (violin); Django Reinhardt,
Joseph Reinhardt, Pierre "Baro" Ferret (guitars);
Lucien Simoens (double-bass); Freddy Taylor
(vocals) (15, 18).
Recorded in Paris, 4th May 1936 (14 – 16);
Paris, 15th October 1936 (17 – 20).
Le Quintette du Hot Club de France:
Stephane Grappelli (violin); Django Reinhardt,
Pierre "Baro" Ferret, Marcel Blanchi –(guitars);
Louis Vola (double-bass)
Recorded in Paris, 21st April 1937 (21 –
25); Paris, 22nd April 1937 (26, 27).
CD 2
Johnny GREEN
Body And Soul (1930) [3:25]
Robert KATSCHER
When Day Is Done (1926) [3:09]
A. HARRINGTON GIBBS
Runnin' wild! (1922) [2:54]
Fred FISHER
Chicago (That Toddlin' Town) (1922)
[3:25]
Django REINHARDT,
Stephane GRAPPELLI
Mystery Pacific (1937) [2:19]
Ted SNYDER
The Sheik Of Araby (1921) [3:02]
Django REINHARDT,
Stephane GRAPPELLI
Minor Swing (1937) [3:14]
Fats WALLER
Honeysuckle Rose (1929) [2:53]
Maceo PINKARD, Ben
BERNIE, Kenneth CASEY
Sweet Georgia Brown (1925) [3:08]
Cole PORTER
Night And Day (1932) [2:42]
Django REINHARDT,
Stephane GRAPPELLI
My Sweet (1938) [2:53]
Django REINHARDT,
Stephane GRAPPELLI
Souvenirs (1938) [2:43]
Django REINHARDT,
Stephane GRAPPELLI
Daphne (1937) [3:10]
Django REINHARDT,
Stephane GRAPPELLI
Stompin'at Decca (1938) [2:31]
Django REINHARDT,
Stephane GRAPPELLI
Billets Doux (Love Letters) (1938)
[2:50]
Django REINHARDT,
Stephane GRAPPELLI
Swing From Paris (1938) [2:25]
Maceo PINKARD, William
TRACEY, Doris TAUBER
Them There Eyes (1930) [2:58]
Django REINHARDT,
Stephane GRAPPELLI
Appel Direct (Direct Call) (1938)
[3:02]
Django REINHARDT,
Stephane GRAPPELLI
Swing '39 (1939) [3:15]
Richard A. WHITING
The Japanese Sandman (1920) [2:42]
Walter DONALDSON
I Wonder Where My Baby is Tonight?
(1925) [3:01]
Johnny GREEN
Out Of Nowhere (1931) [3:14]
Django REINHARDT,
Stephane GRAPPELLI
H.C.Q. Strut (1939) [2:54]
Django REINHARDT
Love's Melody (Melodie au crepuscule)(1946)
[3:08]
Django REINHARDT
Belleville (1942) [2:57]
Django REINHARDT
Nuages (Clouds) It's The Bluest Kind Of
Blues (1940) [3:16]
Le Quintette du Hot Club de France: Stephane
Grappelli (violin); Django Reinhardt, Pierre
"Baro" Ferret, Marcel Bianchi (guitars); Louis
Vola (double-bass) (1 – 6)
Recorded in Paris, 22nd April 1937 (1,2);
Paris, 26th April 1937 (3 – 5); Paris, 27th
April 1937 (6)
Le Quintette du Hot Club de France: Stephane
Grappelli (violin); Django Reinhardt, Eugene
Vees, Joseph Reinhardt (7) Roger Chaput (8-14)
(guitars); Louis Vola (double-bass)
Recorded in Paris, 25th November 1937 (7);
London, 31st January 1938 (8 – 14)
Le Quintette du Hot Club de France: Stephane
Grappelli (violin); Django Reinhardt, Joseph
Reinhardt, Eugene Vees (guitars); Roger "Toto"
Grasset (double-bass)
Recorded in Paris, 14th June 1938 (15 – 18)
Le Quintette du Hot Club de France: Stephane
Grappelli (violin); Django Reinhardt, Joseph
Reinhardt, Pierre "Baro" Ferret (guitars);
Emmanuel Soudieux (double-bass)
Recorded in Paris, 21st March 1939 (19 –
21)
Duo: Stephane Grappelli (violin), Django
Reinhardt (guitar)
Recorded in Paris, 30th June 1939 (22)
Le Quintette du Hot Club de France: Stephane
Grappelli (violin); Django Reinhardt, Joseph
Reinhardt, Eugene Vees (guitars); Emmanuel
Soudieux (double-bass)
Recorded in London, 25th August 1939 (23)
Quintet: Stephane Grappelli (violin); Django
Reinhardt, Jack Llewellyn, Allan Hodgkiss
(guitars); Coleridge Goode (double-bass)
Recorded in London, 1st February 1946 (24
– 26)
CD Reviews
LIVING
ERA CD AJS 2016 [77.51 + 78.45]
