WICA - Theatre Series Offerings

ABOUT DJANGO REINHARDT AND GYPSY JAZZ

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GYPSY JAZZ (also known as "Gypsy Swing") is an
idiom sometimes said to have been started by the Ferre
brothers in the late 1920s, which later became popular
due to the work of guitarist Django Reinhardt in the 1930s.
Because its origins are largely in

France

, it is often called
by the French name, "Jazz manouche," or alternatively,
"manouche jazz," even in English language sources. Django
was foremost among a group of guitarists working in and
around Paris in the late 1920s and 30s.

Many of the musicians in this style worked in Paris in
various popular Musette ensembles. The Musette style
waltz remains an important component in the Gypsy jazz
repertoire. Reinhardt was noted for combining a dark,
chromatic Gypsy flavor with the swing articulation of the
period. This combination is critical to this style of jazz.
In addition to this, his approach continues to form
the basis for contemporary Gypsy jazz guitar.
Reinhardt's most famous group, the Quintette du Hot Club
du France, also brought fame to jazz violinist Stéphane Grappelli.

Gypsy jazz, along with traditional Gypsy music, is learned
by the passing down of knowledge from older generations.
Many Gypsy musicians do not read notated music. It is
more common for beginners to spend hours learning
and memorizing songs from recordings and
gleaning techniques from more experienced players.

In Gypsy jazz, guitar and violin are the main solo
instruments, although clarinet and accordian are also
common. The rhythm guitar is played using a distinct
percussive technique, "la pompe”, which essentially
replaces the drums. An upright bass fills out the ensembles.
Although many instrumental lineups exist, a group
including one lead guitar, violin, two rhythm guitars,
and bass is often the norm.

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DJANGO REINHARDT

Jean Baptiste "Django" Reinhardt (1910 – 1953) was
a Belgian Roma jazz guitarist. He was one of the first
important jazz musicians to be born in Europe , and
one of the most important jazz guitarists of all time.
His most renowned tunes include "Minor Swing,"
"Tears," "Belleville," and "Nuages" ("Clouds").

Reinhardt spent most of his youth in Basque gypsy
encampments close to Paris , playing banjo, guitar
and violin from an early age professionally at dance halls
in Paris . The first known recordings (in 1928) were of him
playing a banjo tuned in standard guitar tuning.

At the age of 18, Reinhardt was injured in a fire that
ravaged the caravan he shared with his wife Bella. While
his family and neighbors were quick to pull him to safety,
he received first- and second-degree burns over half his
body. His right leg was paralyzed and his left hand was
badly burnt. Doctors believed that he would never play
guitar again and intended to amputate the leg. Nevertheless,
he left the hospital after a short time and within a year
could walk with use of a cane.

His brother Joseph Reinhardt, an accomplished guitarist
in his own right, bought Django a new guitar. With painful
rehabilitation and practice, Django relearned his craft in a
completely new way, even as his third and fourth fingers
remained partially paralyzed. He was still able to use
these two fingers for playing chords, but was unable to
use them for playing solos.

In 1934, Louis Vola formed the "Quintette du Hot Club
de France" with Reinhardt, violinist Stéphane Grappelli, Reinhardt's
brother Joseph and Roger Chaput on guitar, and himself on
bass. Occasionally Pierre “Baro” Ferret replaced Chaput. The concept
of "lead guitar" (Django) and backing "rhythm guitar" (Joseph
Reinhardt, Roger Chaput or Pierre Ferret) was born with that band.
They also used their guitars for percussive sounds, as they had
no true percussion section.

Reinhardt later formed bands with more conventional
instrumentations as with clarinet or saxophone, piano,
bass and drums. He produced numerous recordings at this
time with the quintet. He also played and recorded American
Jazz legends such as Coleman Hawkins, Benny Carter,
Rex Stewart (who later stayed in Paris ), and a jam
session with jazz legend Louis Armstrong).

The original quintet was touring the

when World War II
was declared. Reinhardt returned to Paris at once, leaving
his wife behind. Grappelli remained in the United

Kingdom f

or the duration of the war and Reinhardt reformed
the quintet in Paris with Hubert Rostaing on clarinet in
place of Grappelli's violin.

Take a look at a great documentary about Django's
career in occupied Paris
Django Reinhardt - Nuages Documentary

After the war, Reinhardt rejoined Grappelli in the UK , and
went on to tour the

United States

, opening for Duke Ellington,
and playing at Carnegie Hall, with many notable musicians and
composers such as Maury Deutsch. He later returned to

France

and continued to play and make many recordings.

In 1948, Reinhardt recruited a few Italian jazz players
(on bass, piano, and snare drum) and recorded one of his
most acclaimed contributions, "Djangology," once again with
his compatriot Stéphane Grappelli on violin.

In 1951, he retired to Samois sur Seine , France ,
near Fontainebleau and died on May 16, 1953.

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