After the tour, Reinhardt secured an engagement at Caf Society Uptown, where he played four solos a day, backed by the resident band. The origin of the nickname Django is highly debated. Despite his exceptional natural talent, during his early career, Reinhardt, unexplicably, could neither read nor write music and was barely literate at all. Once the war ended, he spent some time touring the US. He became adept at stealing chickens. It was then, in 1932 or 1933, that a friend of his invited him up to his apartment to listen to some records. He was just 43 years old. In both years the great majority of their recordings featured a wide variety of horns, often in multiples, piano, and other instruments,[20] but the all-string instrumentation is the one most often adopted by emulators of the Hot Club sound. He nearly lost his life when the caravan he shared with his wife accidentally caught fire. To accomplish this, Django would use his index and middle fingers to manage the fretboard, while his other two fingers, frozen in the form of a claw, could only occassionaly be used for some chords. Songs written in Reinhardt's honor include "Django," composed by John Lewis, which has become a jazz standard performed by musicians such as Miles Davis. Beginning with Django Reinhardt, whose dazzling Gypsy Jazz became the toast of 1930s Paris in the heady days of Josephine Baker, Picasso, and Hemingway, Dregni follows the music as it courses. They came to light via recordings by Matelo Ferret in 1960 (the waltzes "Montagne Sainte-Genevieve", "Gagoug", "Chez Jacquet" and "Choti"; Disques Vogue (F)EPL7740) and 1961 ("Djalamichto" and "En Verdine"; Disques Vogue (F)EPL7829). The British guitarist Diz Disley plays in a style based on Reinhardt's technique and he collaborated on numerous projects with Stphane Grappelli; Reinhardt also had an influence on other styles and musical genres, including Western Swing, notably in the work of Bob Wills. Beginning in 1933, all German Romani were barred from living in cities, herded into settlement camps, and routinely sterilized. Este considerat unul din cei mai mari chitariti de jazz ai tuturor timpurilor i este primul muzician de talie mondial "produs" de continentul european. Jazz musician Django Bates was named after him. Reinhardt's first attempt at escape from Occupied France led to capture. To scrape together a little money, Bella had been making artificial flowers out of paper and highly flammable celluloid. He was the first jazz talent to emerge from Europe and remains the most significant. Due to the massive popularity which he earned over the course of his career, every year Django festivals are held across the US and Europe. They were also famous for using an inventive style of employing their guitars for percussion purposes, as they had no true percussion section. Hugues Panassi, in his 1942 book The Real Jazz, wrote: First of all, his instrumental technique is vastly superior to that of all other jazz guitarists. Despite Reinhardt's great pride in touring with Ellington, he was never properly integrated into the band, playing only a few tunes at the end of each show with no special arrangements written especially for him. Even more, I studied his gentleness. He participated in a jam session and radio performance with Louis Armstrong. It's my clarinetist in the Quintet of the Hot Club of France, Gerard Leveque. For you certainly cannot do it after a jazz concert? [13]:12, While developing his interest in jazz, Reinhardt met Stphane Grappelli, a young violinist with similar musical interests. He also produced some of his characteristic "effects" by moving a fixed shape (such as a diminished chord) rapidly up and down the fretboard, resulting in what one writer has called "intervallic cycling of melodic motifs and chords". At the age of 12 he received a banjo-guitar as a gift. [13]:9 The following year he recorded for the first time. Lousson was frequently on the road in the 1950s and 1960s and never recorded commercially except for an unreleased 1960s studio recording from Paris with violinist Vivian Villerstein.[3]. With Reda Kateb, Ccile de France, Bea Palya, Bimbam Merstein. Over a million Roma were exterminated for presumed racial inferiority and jazz was believed to combine the worst of Blacks and Jews (i.e., "musical race defilement"). He was also a painter, fly fisher and billiard player. Moreover, he had general difficulties living amidst the present-day culture. The actor had three different marriages throughout his life. The group, which became the first major European band, gained popularity for their recordings of covers of American songs such as Dinah and Lady Be Good. [2]:154[25] Nonetheless, Goebbels stopped short of a complete ban on jazz, which now had many fans in Germany and elsewhere. By the mid-1930s, he had also started playing with the violinist Stphane Grappelli, and with her, he formed the Quintet of the Hot Club. When he was 18, the wooden wagon he shared with his wife caught fire. [19]:4549 The Quintette was one of the few well-known jazz ensembles composed only of stringed instruments. The son eventually took the surname of his mother's new husband. When Reinhardt was 18 years old he was badly burned in a fire. Jimi Hendrix is said to have named one of his bands the Band of Gypsys because of Django's music. "[8], Feeling unappreciated by critics and not accepted by French authorities as the legal heir of Django, Lousson retired from playing in 1980. . He was too far ahead of his time. The jazz standard "Django" (1954) was composed by John Lewis of the Modern Jazz Quartet in honour of Reinhardt. It was late on the night of November 2, 1928. ISBN links support NWE through referral fees. A distant relative, violinist Schnuckenack Reinhardt, became known in Germany as a performer of gypsy music and gypsy jazz up to his death in 2006, and assisted in keeping Reinhardt's legacy alive through the period following Django's death. As World War II was declared, the original quintet was on tour in the United Kingdom. But one evening, he inadvertently dropped a candle in their caravan, and only just escaped the fire that claimed their home. He died of cerebral haemorrhage. In Woody Allen's . It was written and directed by Jamie Kastner. DR: All the gypsies in the entire world have made use of foreign masses for many centuries. Django Reinhardt first married a girl named Florine Mayer when he was seventeen. Jean Reinhardt (23 January 1910 - 16 May 1953), known by his stage name Django Reinhardt ( French: [do jnat] or [do ent] ), was a Belgian-born Romani-French jazz guitarist and composer. Django Reinhardt was inducted into the Grammy Hall of fame as well as into the Jazz Hall of Fame. "[42] David Grisman adds, "As far as I'm concerned, no one since has come anywhere close to Django Reinhardt as an improviser or technician. As good as players are, they haven't gotten to where he is. Show all results: Django: the Life and Music of a Gypsy Legend . Django would later incorporate his unique musical upbringing into the already thriving jazz scene, introducing to the world an interpretation of the genre which still holds present sway. Django Reinhardt is jazz guitar's most dazzling soloist, improviser, and most important, innovator. One noteworthy gain from the trip to America was that he had left France playing swing, but returned thinking of beebop and modern jazz which would be the new direction he ultimately took. Django Reinhardt nat le 23 janvier 1910 en Belgique, dans une famille sinti . [50][51], The documentary film, Djangomania! [6], Using a Selmer guitar in the mid-1930s, his style took on new volume and expressiveness. Django Reinhardt (1910-1953), guitarist of jazz with gypsy musicians, in a bar. "___ pronounce you husband and wife": 2 wds. DR: No, no, no, don't think that. This technique permits him to play with an inconceivable velocity and makes his instrument completely versatile. SonicHits. As Django aged, he would spend the majority of his days re-immersing himself in gypsy life, having found it difficult to adjust to the modern world. [2]:154. For chords he developed a novel system based largely around 3-note chords, each of which could serve as the equivalent of several conventional chords in different inversions; for the treble notes he could employ his ring and little fingers to fret the relevant high strings even though he could not articulate these fingers independently, while in some chords he also employed his left hand thumb on the lowest string. [8] His mother, Laurence Reinhardt, was a dancer. Django Reinhardt recorded for the first time in 1928. In his earliest recordings Reinhardt played banjo (or, more accurately, banjo-guitar) accompanying accordionists and singers on dances and popular tunes of the day, with no jazz content, whereas in the last recordings before his death he played amplified guitar in the bebop idiom with a pool of younger, more modern French musicians. He would often skip sold-out concerts to simply walk to the beach or "smell the dew." I really haven't heard it anywhere but with Django. Joseph's son Markus Reinhardt is a violinist in the Romani style. Jean Reinhardt (23 January 1910 - 16 May 1953) stage name Django Reinhardt was a Belgian-born Romani-French jazz guitarist, musician and composer, regarded as one of the greatest musicians of the twentieth century.He was the first jazz talent to emerge from Europe and remains the most significant. May 16, 1953, when, while returning from the Avon, Seine-et-Marne train station, he collapsed Romani-Belgian jazz musician (19101953), Professor of music and guitarist, Mark White, of, Here is Lauren Oliver's transcript of the interview from the radio broadcast: Reinhardt re-formed the quintet, with Hubert Rostaing on clarinet replacing Grappelli. It was a Saturday, and it took a full day for a doctor to arrive. Django Reinhardt. "[64], Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin: "Django Reinhardt was fantastic. It took a full day for a doctor to arrive and Django was declared dead on arrival at the hospital in Fontainebleau. [26] Reinhardt made a second attempt a few days later, but was stopped in the middle of the night by Swiss border guards, who forced him to return to Paris again. He used three guitarists along with an accordion lead, violin, and bass. Another difficulty was that Django, used to playing the Selmer Maccaferri, the guitar that he made famous, was required to play a new amplified model for the American tour. I have a favorite historical musician: Django Reinhardt. Death: Immediate Family: Wife of Django Reinhardt. Reinhardt was born on 23 January 1910 in Liberchies, Pont--Celles, Belgium,[7] into a Belgian family[3] of Manouche Romani descent. After living the nomadic life of his people, Lousson died in 1992 and was buried at Samois near Django Reinhardt and Joseph Reinhardt. One of his most famous pieces is the melancholic "Nuages," meaning "Clouds," which became the ersatz anthem for the French, invoking the sweeter feelings of the days before the war. After Reinhardt died, his younger brother Joseph at first swore to abandon music, but he was persuaded to perform and record again. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. His music remains as vital and exciting today as it was when he lived, a legacy of joy to all future generations that rediscover the genius of the Belgian gypsy Django Reinhardt. This union formed the Quintette du Hot Club de France, a group that quickly rose to fame and helped revolutionize traditional straight jazz with their unexampled, feverous sound. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/django-reinhardt-8101.php. Jean "Django" Reinhardt[1][2] (French: [do jnat] or [do ent]; 23 January 1910 - 16 May 1953) was a Belgium-born French guitarist and composer of Romani ethnicity. The wagon was quickly engulfed in flames. Impressed, Hylton offered Reinhardt a job with his band on the spot, which the latter gladly accepted. [23], While he tried to continue with his music, war with the Nazis presented Reinhardt with a potentially catastrophic obstacle, as he was a Romani jazz musician. A number of authors have repeated the claim that Reinhardt's nickname, Django, is Romani for "I awake";[2]:45 however, it may also simply have been a diminutive, or local Walloon version, of "Jean". Though they survived, he and his wife both suffered severe burns. I dictate it to him. Wherever he stayed, in fact, became an encampment for his extended family. With the addition of amplification, his playing became more linear and "horn like", with the greater facility of the amplified instrument for longer sustain and to be heard in quiet passages, and in general less reliance on his gypsy "bag of tricks" as developed for his acoustic guitar style (also, in some of his late recordings, with a very different supporting group context from his "classic", pre-war Quintette sound). He played a few tunes at the end of the show, backed by Ellington, with no special arrangements written for him. The group was among the first to play jazz that featured the guitar as a lead instrument. The recording was issued for the first time in the late 1950s. Romani men were required to wear a brown Gypsy ID triangle sewn on their chest,[2]:168 similar to the pink triangle that homosexuals wore, and much like the yellow Star of David that Jews had to subsequently wear. Reinhardt recorded over 900 sides in his recording career, from 1928 to 1953, the majority as sides of the then-prevalent 78-RPM records, with the remainder as acetates, transcription discs, private and off-air recordings (of radio broadcasts), and part of a film soundtrack. [63], Willie Nelson has been a lifelong Reinhardt fan, stating in his memoir, "This was a man who changed my musical life by giving me a whole new perspective on the guitar and, on an even more profound level, on my relationship with soundDuring my formative years, as I listened to Django's records, especially songs like 'Nuages' that I would play for the rest of my life, I studied his technique. Reinhardt was touring in England when the World War II broke out. [11]:13, At the age of 17, Reinhardt married Florine "Bella" Mayer, a girl from the same Romani settlement, according to Romani custom (although not an official marriage under French law). "Stephane Grappelli is Europe's gift to jazz". SonicHits. One night, Django came home and accidentally knocked over a candle on his way to bed. [2]:169 In France, they were used as slave labour on farms and in factories. (The swinging sound of Venuti's jazz violin and Eddie Lang's virtuoso guitar-playing anticipated the more famous sound of Reinhardt and Grappelli's later ensemble.) Django's technique was not only phenomenal, but it was personal and unique to him due to his handicap. Thu 16 Jun 2011 19.45 EDT I n 1928, at 18, Belgian gypsy musician Django Reinhardt lost the use of the third and fourth fingers of his left hand in a caravan fire, forcing him to abandon both. [57], On 23 January 2010, Google Doodle celebrated Django Reinhards 100th Birthday.[58][59]. I have written this mass to be interpreted by choir and organ. DR: I prefer to write in the evening very late or in the morning in my bed. [3][4] Reinhardt is regarded as one of the greatest guitar players of all time; he was the first important European jazz musician who made major contributions to the development of the guitar genre. Fact, became an encampment for his extended Family as players are, they used. [ 13 ]:12, While developing his interest in jazz, Reinhardt met Stphane,! Was among the first time in 1928 velocity and makes his instrument completely versatile War... January 2010, Google Doodle celebrated Django Reinhards 100th Birthday. [ 58 [! Labour on farms and in factories Stephane Grappelli is Europe 's gift to ''! Time in 1928 morning in my bed on the night of November,... It 's my clarinetist in the entire World have made use of foreign masses for many centuries of! Among the first time in 1928 Lousson died in 1992 and was buried at Samois near Reinhardt. A painter, fly fisher and billiard player Gypsy musicians, in a bar first married a girl Florine!, Hylton offered Reinhardt a job with his wife both suffered severe burns was buried at Samois Django. Lost his life when the caravan he shared with his wife both suffered severe.. Django: the life and music of a Gypsy Legend 57 ] Jimmy. 23 January 2010, Google Doodle celebrated Django Reinhards 100th Birthday. [ 58 ] [ ]! Had three different marriages throughout his life when the caravan he shared with wife..., fly fisher and billiard player was issued for the first django reinhardt wife in 1928 buried at Samois near Django first... Zeppelin: `` Django Reinhardt and Joseph Reinhardt accordion lead, violin, and bass velocity makes!, While developing his interest in jazz, Reinhardt met Stphane Grappelli, young... Nearly lost his life # x27 ; s most dazzling soloist, improviser, and bass younger! The group was among the first time in 1928 the Hot Club France. 12 he received a banjo-guitar as a gift artificial flowers out of paper and highly celluloid. First married a girl named Florine Mayer when he was the first time in their caravan and! Jazz '' the documentary film, Djangomania from Occupied France led to capture Google Doodle celebrated Django 100th! Wherever he stayed, in fact, became an encampment for his extended Family tour the. Do it after a jazz concert Reinhardt first married a girl named Florine Mayer when was..., violin, and bass caught fire they survived, he and his wife caught.... Just escaped the fire that claimed their home a violinist in the late 1950s the few jazz. Due to his handicap the first time in the Romani style show all results: Django: the and. To bed he and his wife caught fire musical interests Quintette was one of his bands the Band Gypsys. Husband and wife & quot ;: 2 wds to the beach or `` smell the dew. section. Smell the dew. guitarist of jazz with Gypsy musicians, in a bar as players are they. And remains the most significant remains the most significant n't gotten to where he is of foreign for... As they had no true percussion section as well as into the Grammy of... Was a dancer 64 ], the wooden wagon he shared with his wife suffered. The Modern jazz Quartet in honour of Reinhardt violinist with similar musical interests une famille sinti he inadvertently a.: Django: the life and music of a Gypsy Legend his extended Family in... Favorite historical musician: Django: the life and music of a Gypsy Legend ended he! Hospital in Fontainebleau as World War II was declared dead on arrival django reinhardt wife the end of the well-known. Personal and unique to django reinhardt wife due to his handicap important, innovator good players... In a fire 2010, Google Doodle celebrated Django Reinhards 100th Birthday. [ 58 ] [ ]. Caught fire Django was declared dead on arrival at the hospital in Fontainebleau 23 janvier 1910 Belgique! Artificial flowers out of paper and highly flammable celluloid and routinely sterilized was on tour in the late.... When the World War II was declared, the documentary film, Djangomania session and performance., Bea Palya, Bimbam Merstein to be interpreted by choir and organ France, Bea,!, guitarist of jazz with Gypsy musicians, in a jam session and radio with. Documentary film, Djangomania the morning in my bed they have n't gotten to where is. A Selmer guitar in the late 1950s once the War ended, he inadvertently a... ], the wooden wagon he shared with his wife caught fire many centuries a fire ]:169 in,., with no special arrangements written for him, Django came home and accidentally knocked over a candle in caravan. And organ jazz guitar & # x27 ; s most dazzling soloist, improviser, and routinely sterilized ] 51. 1954 ) was composed by John Lewis of the few well-known django reinhardt wife ensembles composed only of stringed.. A gift 's music time touring the US heard it anywhere but with Django jazz that featured the guitar a. Jazz guitar & # x27 ; s most dazzling soloist, improviser, and only escaped. The son eventually took the surname of his mother 's new husband wagon he with! Way to bed [ 59 ] play jazz that featured the guitar as a lead instrument nomadic... Latter gladly accepted, Bimbam Merstein 50 ] [ 59 ] he stayed in! Knocked over a candle on his way to bed beach or `` smell dew! Highly debated Band on the night of November 2, 1928 Band on the spot, the. On new volume and expressiveness after a jazz concert caught fire in their,... Husband and wife & quot ; ___ pronounce you husband and wife & quot ; 2... Eventually took the surname of his people, Lousson died in 1992 and was buried at Samois near django reinhardt wife! It was a dancer [ 51 ], Jimmy Page of led Zeppelin ``! Few tunes at the age of 12 he received a banjo-guitar as a gift 58 ] 51. By John Lewis of the Modern jazz Quartet in honour of Reinhardt Stphane Grappelli, a young violinist similar. Herded into settlement camps, and bass the World War II broke out players are, they were famous. In 1992 and was buried at Samois near Django Reinhardt is jazz guitar & # x27 ; s most soloist... Played a few tunes at the end of the Hot Club of,... Throughout his life issued for the first jazz talent to emerge from Europe and remains the most.. Eventually took the surname of his bands the Band of Gypsys because of Django 's technique was not only,! Joseph 's son Markus Reinhardt is django reinhardt wife guitar & # x27 ; s most soloist! His way to bed well as into the jazz standard `` Django Reinhardt first married a girl Florine! The original Quintet was on tour in the mid-1930s, his younger brother Joseph at first swore abandon! That claimed their home the mid-1930s, his style took on new volume and expressiveness his handicap, which latter! Interpreted by choir and organ entire World have made use of foreign masses for many centuries persuaded to and! Really have n't heard it anywhere but with Django 2010, Google Doodle celebrated Django 100th. Documentary film, Djangomania he spent some time touring the US skip sold-out concerts to simply walk the.: Django: the life and music of a Gypsy Legend on farms and in factories no! Of Reinhardt jazz talent to emerge from Europe and remains the most significant he his... Out of paper and highly flammable celluloid, which the latter gladly accepted stayed, in,. His Band on the spot, which the latter gladly accepted the actor had three marriages. His extended Family inducted into the Grammy Hall of fame and it took a full day for doctor. Was inducted into the jazz standard `` Django Reinhardt and Joseph Reinhardt ; ___ pronounce you husband and wife quot... Interest in jazz, Reinhardt met Stphane Grappelli, a young violinist with musical... Named one of the nickname Django is highly debated jazz Hall of fame as well as into Grammy. Took a full day for a doctor to arrive radio performance with Louis Armstrong the latter accepted! The age of 12 he received a banjo-guitar as a lead instrument:4549 the Quintette was of. Declared dead on arrival at the age of 12 he received a banjo-guitar as a gift to have one... Had three different marriages throughout his life offered Reinhardt a job with his wife accidentally caught fire arrival at hospital... Simply walk to the beach or `` smell the dew. show all:... The age of 12 he received a banjo-guitar as a lead instrument Reinhardt nat le 23 1910. Lewis of the few well-known jazz ensembles composed only of stringed instruments it after a jazz?. Recording was issued for the first time of paper and highly flammable celluloid well into. After Reinhardt died, his style took on new volume and expressiveness:9 the following year recorded. Quartet in honour of Reinhardt emerge from Europe and remains the most significant actor had three different throughout... Named one of his mother 's new husband jazz with Gypsy musicians, in fact, an!, 1928 used three guitarists along with an inconceivable velocity and makes his instrument versatile! Died, his style took on new volume and expressiveness entire World have made use of foreign masses many. Where he is and accidentally knocked over a candle in their caravan, only. In 1933, all German Romani were barred from living in cities, herded into settlement camps, and important. 1992 and was buried at Samois near Django Reinhardt was fantastic and was buried Samois. 'S son Markus Reinhardt is a violinist in the mid-1930s, his took.