Django Reinhardt-The Best of Django Reinhardt

This collection serves as a good introduction to the famous Gypsy guitarist, including as it does examples of the original Hot Club of France quintet with Stephane Grappelli, solo pieces, duets, trios, groups including reed or brass players, and two encounters between Django and ensembles of American musicians. The emphasis tends to be on Django's early Hot Club work, represented by five tunes on this CD, but several others here retain a Hot Club era feeling, particularly the duet with Quintet bassist Louis Vola and the Grappelli-less trio of "I'll See You In My Dreams."
The debate continues to rage over whether the postwar reunion of Reinhardt with Grappelli ever came close to their triumphs of the '30s; the last five cuts will allow you to judge for yourself. And if you're looking for the roots of the "New Acoustic Music" as perpetrated by David Grisman, Mark O'Connor et al, check out "Minor Swing." Like so many tunes that became jazz standards, it was played at a much more relaxed tempo in its original 1937 incarnation than it is usually performed today.
Recorded between May 4, 1936 and March 10, 1948. Includes liner notes by Dan Morgenstern.
Live Recording

Artist: Django Reinhardt
Title Of Album: The Best of Django Reinhardt
Year Of Release: 1936/1948
Label: BLUE NOTE
Genre: Jazz
Format: MP3@320 kbps
Sound Quality: FULL
Type: CD
Total Time: 51:21
Total Size: 115 MB

Track Listing
01 Limehouse Blues         2:43
     with Django Reinhardt - Hot Club De France Quintet
02 When Day Is Done 3:08
03 Saint Louis Blues         2:38
04 Minor Swing 3:12
     with Django Reinhardt - Quintette Du Hot Club De France - Stιphane Grappelli
05 My Serenade 2:57
06 You Rascal You         3:01
07 Montmartre         2:23
     with Django Reinhardt - Rex Stewart
08 I'll See You In My Dreams 2:28
09 Naguine         2:22
10 Nuages         3:13
11 Blues Clair         2:59
     with Django Reinhardt
12 Place De Brouckere 2:55
13 Manoir De Mes Rκves 3:15
     with Django Reinhardt - Quintette Du Hot Club De France
14 Django's Tiger         2:33
15 Ol' Man River         2:35
     with Django Reinhardt - Quintette Du Hot Club De France
16 Diminushing         3:10
     with Django Reinhardt - Quintette Du Hot Club De France
17 Lady Be Good 2:51
     with Django Reinhardt - Quintette Du Hot Club De France
18 To Each His Own Symphonie 2:59
     with Django Reinhardt - Quintette Du Hot Club De France
Personnel:
Django Reinhardt (guitar);
Jim Hays (alto saxophone, clarinet);
Joe Moser, Max Blanc, Robert Merchez, Robert Mavounzy (alto saxophone);
Andre Louis, Charles Hary, Bernie Cavaliere, Bill Zickefoose (tenor saxophone);
Ken Lowther (baritone saxophone);
Alex Renard, Alex Caturegli, Maurice Moufflard, Herb Bass, Jerry Stephan, Lonnie Wilfong (trumpet);
Rex Stewart (cornet);
Maurice Gladieu, Pierre Remy, Bill Decke, Don Gardner, Shelton Heath, John Kirkpatrick (trombone);
Barney Bigard, Alix Combelle, Hubert Rostaign (clarinet);
Larry Mann (piano);
Stephane Grappelli (violin);
Joseph Reinhardt, Louis Gaste, Eugene Vees, Pierre Ferret, Jack Llewelin, Allan Hodgkiss, Challin Ferret (guitar);
Emmanuel Sodieux, Louis Vola, Lucien Simoens, Eugene D'Hellemmes, Billy Taylor, Tony Rovira, Jean Storne, Bob Decker, Coleridge Goode, Fred Ermelin (bass);
Pierre Fouad, Gaston Leonard, Bill Bethel (drums).

Django Reinhardt was both the first great jazz-guitar soloist and the first European jazz musician to have a significant influence on American musicians. Just as Earl Hines had found a way to transfer Louis Armstrong's assertive solo style to the piano, Reinhardt did it with the acoustic guitar, mixing inventive melodic improvisation with a decorative gypsy-guitar idiom and vigorous rhythm. He did it most often with the Hot Club of France, a quintet including violinist Stephane Grappelli, two rhythm guitarists, and a bassist that created its own distinctive style, a lightly propulsive mix that was an ideal setting for Django's mix of drive, invention, and charm. The recordings here range from 1936 to 1948 and showcase Reinhardt with the Hot Club, clarinetist Hubert Rostaing, and trumpeter Rex Stewart. Included is a brilliant solo performance of his "Naguine." It's an excellent introduction to one of the most original voices in jazz of the period, to a fine composer as well as a unique guitarist. --Stuart Broomer