Some Like It Hot: Inside “Django’s Dream” and the World of Reinhardt’s Hot Gypsy Jazz Guitar
On Saturday, September 28, a group of the world’s leading Gypsy Jazz guitarists will assemble on the Schimmel stage to celebrate the work of the late, great French guitarist and composer, Django Reinhardt. “Django’s Dream” promises to be an unforgettable event that will honor the 1930’s gypsy swing music in astonishing and unpredictable ways, but who was this man and why was he considered one of the greatest jazz guitar players of all time?
The man best known as “Django” was born of “Romani” (or Gypsy) descent in Belgium on January 23, 1910. He developed a penchant for music at a young age and learned to play the violin and banjo in the traditional Roma practice of “playing by ear” and mimicking the fingering of older generations. By the age of 13, Reinhardt had already started to make a living off of his musical gifts and capabilities.
When Django was 18 years of age, the jazz community almost lost Django before he had ever discovered it. He was left disfigured by a fire that had started in his caravan. His left ring and pinky fingers were paralyzed and doctors doubted that he would ever be able to play guitar again. Reinhardt refused to give up on his musical career and through determination, retaught himself to play the guitar in an original way. All of his guitar solos were played while making use of only two fingers! Reinhardt’s ability to triumph over his encumbrance has inspired many musicians throughout history. Two artists known to the world of rock music, Jerry Garcia of The Greatful Dead and Tony Lommi of Black Sabbath were inspired to keep playing by Django’s compelling story after both loosing fingers to accidents.
Django Reinhardt is widely considered the father of jazz guitar.
In 1929, Reinhardt was exposed to the hot jazz recordings of Louis Armstrong. Upon hearing the track, he exclaimed, “Ach moune,” which is the Romani translation for “My Brother!” He put down his banjo guitar and started playing a six-string concert guitar. Django became adept at recreating the same sounds Armstrong was making on his trumpet, with his guitar. Because of his Romani upbringing, Reinhardt had never become literate and was therefor never taught to read or write music. This did not stop him from composing his own music. Many would come and marvel at his ability to improvise original music on the spot.
An informal jam session in 1933 with Stephane Grappelli, Roger Gaput and Louis Vola led to Reinhardt’s involvement in the famed “Quintette du Hot Club de France”. The famed ensemble is widely considered by jazz historians to be the greatest European Jazz group of all time. It was with this group that most of the world became acquainted with Reinhardt’s playing through the many recordings produced by the Utlraphone Record label. The group played together until war broke out in Europe in 1939. Most of the group fled to London while Reinhardt decided to stay in Paris, which eventually fell to Germany. The musicians would not play together again until 1946 when the war had finally ended. That year, the group traveled to the United States and toured the country as a special guest of Duke Ellington’s orchestra. The tour culminated in a fabled two night gig at Carnegie Hall, where he played to standing ovations.
Stephane Wrembel is just one of the renowned artists who will pay tribute to Reinhardt on the Schimmel Stage!
When Django died in 1953 at the age of 43, he left behind a most incredible legacy to both the jazz community and to the world at large. Django’s contemporaries continued on his legacy, exposing hot gypsy jazz guitar to new generations of talented musicians. Pace Presents couldn’t be more proud to welcome this new generation of talented musicians to our stage. We are confident that Django’s dream would have been to hear the likes of Stephane Wrembel, Alfonso Ponticelli and Kamlo perform his works in new and exciting ways, all the while exposing his art to yet another generation. Come experience the dream for yourself on September 28th!
For Tickets, visit schimmel.pace.edu or contact our box office at (212) 346-1715
Be sure to watch the launch of our exciting vlog series below this post!
See you at The Schimmel!
Michael Torbet
Pace Presents 2013-14 Blogger
