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Django was easily the greatest guitarist of his time. Although he died in '53, his influence continues to help shape the direction of his instrument. The re-release of these rare recordings is no small cause for celebration. They feature Django in a number of settings from '34 to '41, with Joseph Reinhardt, Juan Fernandez, Johnny Hodges, Duke Ellington (and his orchestra), Pierre Michelot, Hubert Fol, Stephanie Grappelli, and more. This is a recording no jazz fan will be able to pass up.
Django Reinhardt would be amazed. 47 years after his death and during the year of his centennial, his music seems to be everywhere, and this has been true during the past quarter century. “Gypsy jazz,” is popular all over Europe and increasingly so in the United States. It features musicians in string bands playing swing inspired by the guitarist and violinist Stephane Grappelli. There are dozens of “Hot Clubs” all over the world, seeking to find their own identity in the music originated by the Quintet of The Hot Club of France in the 1930s.
The first major European jazz musician and the finest jazz guitarist of the 1930s (and possibly of all time), Django Reinhardt was an unlikely genius. Not only was he a mostly illiterate gypsy who could be quite unreliable (sometimes disappearing on a moment's notice), Django was also handicapped with two unusable fingers on his left hand due to a fire in his gypsy caravan. He was sneaked out of the hospital by friends so his fingers would not be amputated, and then had to relearn the guitar.
After meeting Stephane Grappelli, Reinhardt co-led their group during 1933-39, making music history and showing that the acoustic guitar could be a major jazz instrument, at least if played by someone of his caliber. Django spent the World War II. years on the European continent (Grappelli stayed in England), somehow dodging the Nazis while performing and recording in a variety of settings. After the war, he had several reunions with Grappelli, made one visit to the United States (a generally unsuccessful tour in 1946 with Duke Ellington), discovered both bebop and the electric guitar, and eventually mastered them both.
The Versatile Giant has mostly rare selections spanning 17 years in Django Reinhardt's career. It starts with a privately recorded trio showcase on “Tiger Rag” from 1933, includes a couple of titles with Grappelli, and four numbers from a 1946 concert with Ellington including an unaccompanied guitar solo on “Improvisation.” There are also some later titles that have Reinhardt leading a couple of combos including performances from 1951.
"Django Reinhardt was the first major European jazz musician, the top jazz guitarist of the 1930s (and some might say of all time), and a very distinctive player. The Versatile Giant features Django in a variety of settings dating from 1933-51 that span nearly his entire career. The rare performances include a privately recorded trio version of “Tiger Rag” from 1933 that predates his famous recordings with violinist Stephane Grappelli as the Quintet of the Hot Club of France. Other classic highlights include four numbers from a 1946 concert with Duke Ellington and some boppish performances on electric guitar from 1951.
After listening to this music, it is gratifying to know that Django Reinhardt, who was somewhat overlooked during his final years, is rightfully celebrated today as a Guitar God. "-Scott Yanow
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