January 23rd is Django’s birthday. As one of the most influential guitarists in the world of jazz and beyond (artists as diverse as Willie Nelson and Jeff Garcia have cited his influence) we thought we would honour this unique artist by running a profile.
On the 23rd of January 1910, Jean Reinhardt was born in Liberchies, Belgium, into a rambling gypsy lifestyle. By the age of eight his mother’s tribe had settled near the fortifications of the Choisy gate, Paris. The Manouche, French Gypsies, lived in a world of their own being mediæval in their beliefs and distrustful of modern science. The name we most associate with Reinhardt is Django which is a Romani nickname meaning ‘I awake’.
Django was attracted to music from an early age; starting with the violin before moving to banjo, and finally guitar. He learned to play by mimicking other musicians, quickly impressed adults with his ability, and was playing professionally by the age of twelve. Almost as soon as he had his own instrument he started playing at a dance hall on the Rue Monge with accordionist Guerino. From there he went on to play with numerous other bands before making his first recording with Ideal Company. Coming from a Gypsy background, Django had not learned to read or write so his name appears on these early records as Jiango Renard.
The infamous life-changing event occurred in the early hours of November 2nd 1928 when Django returned from a night’s playing to the caravan where he was living with his wife. The caravan caught alight from a candle; some say Django knocked it over on the way to bed, others that he was trying to find a mouse and a burning ember dropped from the wick – we shall never know what really happened. Because the place was filled with cellophane flowers, made by his wife to sell at the local markets, it went up rapidly. Django got himself and his wife out but, in doing so, his right side, from knee to waist, and his left hand were badly burned. Doctors recommended amputation which Django refused; choosing instead to convalesce in a nursing home for eighteen months. During this time Django worked on a new fingering system built around the two fingers with full mobility. His ring and little fingers could not be extended as the heat had shrunk the tendons and left them permanently curled. Whilst the curled fingers could be used on the first two strings for chords and octaves soloing was done with the index and middle fingers only.
The next landmark in Django’s life came in 1934 with the birth of the Hot Club of France’s Quintet. The Quintet came about through a chance meeting with Stephane Grappelli at the Hotel Cambridge. During this time Django played a Selmer Maccaferri, the first commercially available guitar with a cutaway. Ultraphone recorded their early music; Dinah, Tiger Rag, Oh Lady be Good, and I Saw Stars. Over the years the Quintet went on to record hundreds of tracks with Ultraphone and had hits on both sides of the pond.
In 1939 war broke out across Europe. The Quintet was touring England at the time and disbanded as each member followed his own conscience. Django returned to Paris, leaving his wife and son, Henri “Lousson”, behind, and continued to play and record music throughout the war; somehow managing to avoid the fate of many of his fellow Manouche. It is thought that he had protection from an officer known as “Doktor Jazz”. During this time he met and married his second wife, Sophie, with whom he had a son, Babik. He also tried a different musical direction, attempting to write a Mass for the Gypsies; improvising whilst an assistant took down the notation. Post war, the Quintet was reunited and playing and recording picked up where it left off. He toured with Duke Ellington in the States in 1946 including two nights at the Carnegie Hall. Django returned to France in early ’47 and eventually retired in 1951 to the small village of Samois sur Seine. He continued to play the Paris jazz clubs and began playing an electric Be-bop guitar.
On May 16th 1953 Django suffered a massive brain haemorrhage and died, leaving behind his wife Sophie and child Babik. But, more importantly, he left a musical legacy that is as vibrant today as it was then. As well as his brother Joseph, both of Django’s sons continued to play jazz guitar; Babik in the contemporary style and Henri in the traditional Manouche style. There is now a third generation of Reinhardts playing jazz; David, Babik’s son, leads his own trio whereas Dallas, “Lousson’s” son, follows in his father’s footsteps travelling with his music.
As part of Django’s legacy, Maurice Dupont continues to maintain the Reinhardt family guitars; repairing where he can and rebuilding where necessary. Here at Sandarac we are proud to be associated with this rich heritage and are delighted to be able to bring fine Grande Bouche, Petite Bouche, and Be-Bop guitars, as well as authentic Stimer amps and pickups to the UK and Ireland.
http://www.sandarac.co.uk/…/selmer-maccaferri-style.html
http://www.sandarac.co.uk/instrum…/busato-jazz-guitar.html
http://www.sandarac.co.uk/…/bebop-arch-top-jazz-guitar…
http://www.sandarac.co.uk/amplifiers/maurice-dupont.html
http://www.sandarac.co.uk/acce…/maurice-dupont-pickps.html