Django Reinhardt

Name: Jean Reinhardt
Born/Died: 23rd January, 1910 (Liberchies, Belgium) – 16th May 1953

Profile: He was a Gypsy jazz guitarist. One of the first prominent European jazz musicians and remains one of the most renowned jazz guitarists. Django's most popular compositions have become jazz standards, including 'Minor Swing', 'Belleville', 'Djangology', 'Swing '42' and 'Nuages'.


History: Django spent most of his youth in Romani (near Paris), where he started in playing banjo, guitar and violin from an early age, and was performing in Parisian dance halls and clubs before he turned 14. He started first on the violin and eventually moved on to a banjo-guitar that had been given to him as a gift. His first known recordings (in 1928) were of him playing the banjo.

At the age of 18, Django was injured in a fire that ravaged his caravan. 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 the third and fourth fingers of his left hand were badly burned. Doctors believed that he would never play guitar again and intended to amputate one of his legs. Reinhardt refused to have the surgery and left the hospital after a short time; he was able to walk within a year with the aid of a cane.

His brother Joseph, an accomplished guitarist himself, bought Django a new guitar. With rehabilitation and practice he relearned his craft in a completely new way, even as his third and fourth fingers remained partially paralyzed. He played all of his guitar solos with only two fingers, and used the two injured digits only for chord work.

By the late 30's, Django was recording with visiting stars of the Duke Ellington Orchestra and after WWII, he realized his lifelong ambition to tour the US in the company of Ellington Orchestra. Django suffered a fatal stroke in 1953, but his brilliant recorded legacy ensures that he will not be forgotten.

Influences: Unknown

Axology: 1932 Selmer Maccaferri Jazz guitar and Gibson LSEC

Link(s):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iJ7bs4mTUY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6jwvS0mHwo

"One of the most original bands in the history of recorded jazz." - Thom Jurek

"Django Reinhardt was fantastic. He must have been playing all the time to be that good" - Jimmy Page