Jump to content

Django Reinhardt

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is an old revision of this page, as edited by MegX (talk | contribs) at 06:47, 23 August 2006 (dab). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Template:Guitarist infobox Jean Baptiste "Django" Reinhardt (January 23, 1910 – May 16, 1953) was a Belgian Roma jazz musician. 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" (French, meaning "Clouds"). Django is pronounced jang go.

Biography

Born in Liberchies, Pont-à-Celles, Belgium, 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. He started first on the violin and eventually moved on to a banjo-guitar that had been given to him, and his first known recordings (in 1928) were of him playing the banjo (a banjo guitar has either 4 or 5 strings. The 5-string banjo is tuned to a G major chord. 1st string - D 2nd string - B 3rd string - G 4th string - D 5th string - G).

File:Django Reinhardt.jpg
Django Reinhardt as a boy

At the age of 18, Reinhardt was injured in a fire that ravaged the caravan he shared with Bella, his first wife. She made imitation flowers out of celluloid and paper for her living. Consequently, their home was full of the highly flammable material. Returning from a performance late one night, Django allegedly knocked over a candle on his way to bed. 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, or fretting, hand was badly burnt. Doctors believed that he would never play guitar again. Furthermore, they intended to amputate the leg. But he left the hospital after a short time. Within a year, he was able to walk with use of a cane.

His brother, Joseph Reinhardt, (an accomplished guitarist in his own right) brought Django a new guitar. With painful rehabilatation 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 Louis Vola on bass. He produced numerous recordings at this time and played with many American Jazz legends such as Coleman Hawkins, Benny Carter, Rex Stewart and Louis Armstrong.

Reinhardt could not read nor write music, and was allegedly illiterate because of his gypsy upbringing.

As World War II was declared, the quintet was on tour in the United Kingdom. Reinhardt returned to Paris at once, leaving his wife behind. Grappelli remained in the United Kingdom for the duration of the war, and Reinhardt reformed the quintet in Paris with Hubert Rostaing on clarinet in place of Grappelli's violin.

Reinhardt survived World War II unscathed, unlike many other gypsies who perished in the concentration death camps of the Nazis. It was especially hard for Django's people because jazz itself was not allowed under Hitler's regime. He had the help of a Luftwaffe official named Dietrich Schulz-Köhn, also known as Doktor Jazz, who deeply admired his music. In 1943 he married Sophie Ziegler in Salbris, with whom he had a son, Babik Reinhardt, who went on to become a respected guitarist in his own right.

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. Despite Reinhardt's great pride in touring with Ellington (one of his two letters to Grappelli relates this excitement), he wasn't really integrated into the band, playing only a few tunes at the end of the show, with no special arrangements for him. He was used to his brother, Joseph, carrying around his guitar for him and tuning it. Allegedly, Reinhardt was given an untuned guitar to play with (discovered after strumming a chord) and it took him five whole minutes to tune it. Also, he was used to playing the Selmer Maccaferri, the guitar he made famous, but he was required to play a new amplified model. After "going electric", the results were not as much liked by fans. He returned to France with broken dreams, but continued to play and make many recordings.

Django Reinhardt was among the first people in France to appreciate and understand the music of Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie whom he sought after when he arrived in New York. Unfortunately they were all on tour.

After returning to France, Django spent the remainder of his days going back to gypsy life, finding it hard to adjust to modern life. One of the most enigmatic events was when Reinhardt permanently abandoned a newly-purchased car on the side of a road because it had run out of gasoline. Reinhardt would sometimes show up to concerts without a guitar, wander off to the park or beach, or even refuse to get out of bed.

The Concept of "Lead Guitar" (Django) and backing "Rhythm Guitars" (Joseph Reinhardt/Roger Chaput) was born with the Quintette Du Hot Club De France. They used their guitars for percussive sounds, as they had no true percussion section.

He later formed a new band with saxophone, trumpet, piano, bass and drums. He continued composing, and is regarded as among the most advanced guitar players of jazz music.

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 Stephane Grappelli on violin. However, his experience in the U.S. made him a different person than what Grappelli had known, influenced greatly by American jazz. But on this recording, Reinhardt switched back to his old roots, once again playing the Acoustic Selmer-Maccafferi. This recording was recently discovered by jazz enthusiasts and is now available in the U.S. and Europe.

In 1951, he retired to Samois sur Seine, France, near Fontainebleau. He lived there for two years until May 16, 1953, when, while returning from the Avon train station, he collapsed outside his house from a brain hemorrhage. It took a full day for a doctor to arrive and Django was declared dead on arrival at the hospital in Fontainebleau.

Trivia

Influence on, admiration by other musicians

  • Jimi Hendrix is said to have named one of his bands the Band of Gypsies because of Django's music.
  • Chet Atkins, when asked to name the ten greatest guitarists of the 20th century, placed Reinhardt #1 on the list (he placed himself at fifth position).
  • The Allman Brothers Band song Jessica was written by Dickey Betts in tribute to Reinhardt. He wanted to write a song that could be played using only two fingers.
  • A song titled "Django," composed by John Lewis, has become a jazz standard performed by musicians such as Miles Davis.
  • Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi was inspired by Reinhardt to keep playing guitar after a factory accident that cost him two fingertips.
  • Former Slade singer Noddy Holder named his son Django.
  • Country music singer and guitar player Jerry Jeff Walker named his son Django.
  • In 2005 Django Reinhardt ended on the 66th place in the election of The Greatest Belgian (De Grootste Belg) in Flanders and on the 76th place in the Walloon version of the same competition Le plus grand belge.
  • British guitarist Diz Disley was strongly influenced by Django Reinhardt and collaborated on numerous projects with Stéphane Grappelli.
  • Willie Nelson wore a Django Reinhardt T-shirt on tour in Europe in 2002, stating in an interview that he admired Django's music and ability.
  • Bob Wills and Western Swing music is an off-shoot of Reinhardt's music.
  • Yes guitarist Steve Howe names Django Reinhardt amongst his early influences.
  • Former Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio cites Django Reinhardt as influence.
  • Folk singer David Crosby named his son Django.
  • Jeff Beck cites Django as an influence.
  • Jerry Garcia,the guitarist for the Grateful Dead was influenced by Reinhardt.
  • Charlie Christian was deeply influenced by Reinhardt.
  • B.B. King states that Django was a huge influence on him as a guitarist.
  • King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp cites Reinhardt as an influence.
  • Tchavolo Schmitt, the manouche jazz guitar player, follows in the tradition of Reinhardt's music. [1]

[2]

Distinctive Features

  • Reinhardt and other guitarists of the Quintet of the Hot Club of France used a Selmer Maccaferri acoustic guitar.
  • The Quintet of the Hot Club of France was one of the few well-known jazz bands to have no drums or rhythm section. The percussive sounds were played on a guitar.

Movies

  • The song Johnny Depp plays in the river party scene in Lasse Hallström's Chocolat was Django and Grapelli's hit, "Minor Swing".
  • Django's "Minor Swing" can be heard in the background during the oracle scene in The Matrix.
  • Djangos compositions Rhythm Futur (95 minute mark) and I Cant Give You Anything But Love (41 minute mark) are portrayed in the movie The Aviator.
  • His song Nuages is also in the movie Gattaca during a scene where Ethan Hawke demonstrates the clouds of Titan in a wine glass using smoke from his cigar.
  • Django's music provides the score for Louis Malle's 1974 movie, "Lacombe Lucien."
  • His music is the background for the Steve Martin movie L.A. Story.
  • His music is the background for a number of Woody Allen movies, including Stardust Memories, where Woody's character plays a Django record.
  • "Honeysuckle Rose" can be heard in the background of the Central Park carriage ride scene in "Kate and Leopold"
  • Reinhardt is the idol of the fictional 1930's guitarist, Emmet Ray (played by Sean Penn), who passes out upon meeting Django in the Woody Allen film Sweet and Lowdown (1999).
  • Reinhardt is portrayed in the opening sequence of the 2003 animated film Les Triplettes de Belleville.
  • He is portrayed by guitarist John Jorgenson in the movie Head in the Clouds.

Other

  • The character Andre Custine has a double bass that had been played by Reinhardt in the novel Century Rain by Alastair Reynolds.
  • The 2002 video game Mafia used many of his songs on the soundtrack.
  • Sealab 2021 paid tribute to Django in the episode "Bebop Cola". In it, Captain Murphy comments on a drink dispensed from the Bebop Cola machine: "Ahh, Mango Rheinhardt! The thinking man's pop!"
  • Harlan Ellison's short story "Django" is a fantasia about a guitarist, with similarities to Reinhardt.
  • The Django web framework, a Python web framework, was named after Reinhardt.

Discography

Releases

Compilations

  • Rétrospective Django Reinhardt 1934/53 (probably the most complete one)
  • The Django -- The Unforgettable
  • Django Reinhardt [Forlane]
  • Stardust Records Presents Django Reinhardt: Anthology 1934-1937
  • Django
  • The Art of Django
  • Quintet of the Hot Club of France [GNP]
  • Vol. 6: Nuages
  • Django Reinhardt and the Quintet
  • Django, Vol. 2 [ITI]

See also

Greatest Hits

  • Ain't Misbehavin'
  • Appel Direct
  • At Jimmy's Bar
  • Belleville
  • Billets Doux
  • Black And White
  • Bugle Call Rag
  • Chasing Shadows
  • Chicago
  • China Boy
  • Daphné
  • Dinah
  • Django's Tiger
  • Djangology
  • Echoes Of Spain
  • Exactly Like You
  • Finesse (Night Wind)
  • HCQ Strut
  • Hangin' Around Boudon
  • Honeysuckle Rose
  • How High The Moon?
  • Hungaria
  • I Got Rhythm
  • I Wonder Where My Baby Is Tonight
  • I'll See You In My Dreams
  • I'm Coming Virginia
  • I've Found A New Baby
  • I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
  • I've Had My Moments
  • Improvisation
  • In A Sentimental Mood
  • In The Still Of The Night
  • It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
  • It Had To Be You
  • It Was So Beautiful
  • Japanese Sandman
  • Lady Be Good
  • Lambeth Walk
  • Liebestraum No
  • Limehouse Blues
  • Little Love, A Little Kiss, A
  • Liza
  • Louise
  • Love's Melody
  • Lover Man
  • Minor Swing
  • Miss Annabelle Lee
  • Moonglow
  • My Sweet
  • Mystery Pacific
  • Naguine
  • Night And Day
  • Nocturne
  • Nuages
  • Oriental Shuffle
  • Please Be Kind
  • Rose Room
  • Runnin' Wild (Course Mouvementee)
  • Solid Old Man
  • Souvenirs
  • St Louis Blues
  • Stephane's Blues
  • Stomping At The Decca
  • Sweet Chorus
  • Sweet Georgia Brown
  • Swing
  • Swing From Paris
  • Swing Guitars
  • Tea For Two
  • Tears
  • Them There Eyes
  • Ultra Fox
  • When Day Is Done
  • You Rascal You
  • You're Driving Me Crazy
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Django_Reinhardt&oldid=71332920"