Django Reinhardt

Biography

Django Reinhardt, born Jean Baptiste Reinhardt on January 23, 1910 in Liberchies, Belgium, was a Belgian-born Romani jazz guitarist and composer who lived most of his life in France. Growing up in a family of Romani gypsies, Django was surrounded by amateur musicians and began playing the violin before switching to banjo and guitar. At age 12, he received his first instrument, a six-string banjo-guitar, and quickly became a skilled, self-taught performer, playing on street corners and in cafes.

In 1928, Reinhardt suffered a devastating injury in a caravan fire, leaving his left hand severely burned and partially paralyzed. Despite losing the use of two fingers, he painstakingly taught himself to play guitar again, developing a unique technique that allowed him to voice chords and execute dazzling solos with only his index and third fingers. Inspired by jazz greats like Louis Armstrong, Reinhardt became entranced by the genre and soon mastered improvisation. In 1934, he co-founded the Quintette du Hot Club de France with violinist Stéphane Grappelli, pioneering a new style that blended Gypsy heritage with swing jazz and featured the guitar as a lead instrument.

Reinhardt's career flourished as he toured Europe, recorded with American jazz legends such as Coleman Hawkins and Benny Carter, and even toured the United States with Duke Ellington's orchestra in 1946. His compositions, including "Minor Swing," "Nuages," and "Djangology," became standards of gypsy jazz, and his melodic improvisations and technical innovations profoundly influenced jazz guitar. Reinhardt died suddenly of a brain hemorrhage in Fontainebleau, France on May 16, 1953, but his legacy endures through annual Django festivals and the continued reverence of guitarists worldwide.

Fun Facts

• Django Reinhardt was largely illiterate and learned music by ear, never formally reading sheet music.
• He played most of his career with only two functional fingers on his left hand due to a fire injury.
• His nickname 'Django' means 'I awake' in the Romani language.
• He popularized the Selmer-Maccaferri guitar, making it the reference instrument for gypsy jazz.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Louis Armstrong - Reinhardt discovered jazz through Armstrong's recordings, which inspired him to devote his life to jazz. (Armstrong's 'Dallas Blues' recording) [late 1920s]

Key Collaborators

• Stéphane Grappelli - Violinist and co-founder of the Quintette du Hot Club de France; Reinhardt's musical partner for 15 years. (Quintette du Hot Club de France recordings) [1934–1949]
• Coleman Hawkins - Recorded together in France during Hawkins' visits. (Collaborative recordings in France) [1930s–1940s]
• Benny Carter - Recorded together in France. (Collaborative recordings) [1930s–1940s]
• Duke Ellington - Reinhardt toured the United States with Ellington's orchestra. (1946 U.S. tour)
• Hubert Rostaing - Recorded the famous track 'Nuages' together. ('Nuages') [1940s]

Artists Influenced

• Frank Vignola - Jazz guitarist who cited Reinhardt as a major influence. (Gypsy jazz performances and recordings) [late 20th–21st century]
• Henri Salvador - French singer and guitarist influenced by Reinhardt's style. (Collaborations and solo work) [1940s–1950s]
• Nearly every major popular music guitarist - Reinhardt's technical innovations and improvisational style influenced generations of guitarists across genres. (Gypsy jazz standards, guitar technique) [1940s–present]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Minor Swing (Djangologie Vol6 / 1937)
2. Brazil (Django Reinhardt: Legendary Recordings)
3. I'll See You in My Dreams (Djangologie Vol9 / 1939 - 1940)
4. Out of Nowhere (All Star Sessions)
5. Beyond The Sea (La Mer) (Djangology 49)
6. Django's Tiger (Djangologie Vol15 / 1946 - 1947)
7. Honeysuckle Rose (Djangologie Vol.4 / 1937)
8. Improvisation on Tchaikowsky's "Pathétique" Andante (The Essential Django Reinhardt)
9. Anniversary Song (Django Reinhardt: Legendary Recordings)
10. All of Me (Django Reinhardt: Legendary Recordings)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #belgian, #continental-jazz, #guitar