The Best of Django Reinhardt

Django Reinhardt | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 19, 1996)
• Original Release Date: March 19, 1996
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Blue Note Records
• ASIN: B000005H2Y
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #20,506 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #13 in Music > Jazz > European Jazz
  • #19 in Music > World Music > Europe > Eastern Europe > Gypsy

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Django Reinhardt was both the first great jazz-guitar soloist and the first European jazz musician to have a significant influence on American musicians. Just as Earl Hines had found a way to transfer Louis Armstrong's assertive solo style to the piano, Reinhardt did it with the acoustic guitar, mixing inventive melodic improvisation with a decorative gypsy-guitar idiom and vigorous rhythm. He did it most often with the Hot Club of France, a quintet including violinist Stephane Grappelli, two rhythm guitarists, and a bassist that created its own distinctive style, a lightly propulsive mix that was an ideal setting for Django's mix of drive, invention, and charm. The recordings here range from 1936 to 1948 and showcase Reinhardt with the Hot Club, clarinetist Hubert Rostaing, and trumpeter Rex Stewart. Included is a brilliant solo performance of his "Naguine." It's an excellent introduction to one of the most original voices in jazz of the period, to a fine composer as well as a unique guitarist. --Stuart Broomer

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

125 of 127 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent introduction to a true genius, July 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Best of Django Reinhardt (Audio CD)

This CD is probably the best way to discover the music of Django Reinhardt. Though the recordings are from the '30s, they are cleaned up nicely by Blue Note's superb remastering. Most of the tunes were written or co-written by Django, and they showcase the brilliant playing of both Django and violinist Stephane Grappelli. Django was not only an amazing soloist, but an incredible rhythm player. Listen to his comping around Grappelli and the horns. He had so much energy his acoustic guitar cut through the rest of the band. Like most musical geniuses, he made it sound natural and effortless. I will repeat what I have stated elsewhere: Django is to '30s jazz guitar what Jimi Hendrix is to '60s rock guitar, a diamond-in-the-rough genius in a class all by himself. There have been none like him, before or since. This CD is an essential part of any jazz collection.

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fine sampling, but just scratching the surface, December 7, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Best of Django Reinhardt (Audio CD)

This "best of" compilation provides a good sampling of Django Reinhardt's recordings over the course of his career, which makes it a good place to start for someone who's not yet familiar with this amazing guitarist (and his equally great partner on violin, Stephane Grappelli). In addition to some great prewar Hot Club of France selections, it also includes some representative recordings made during the war years, while Grappelli was stranded in England while Reinhardt was in France. Still, in the case of Django Reinhardt, any "best of" collection has to leave out vastly more than it includes, and the tunes that are left out include much of the best acoustic guitar playing ever recorded, along with brilliant back-and-forth improvising between Reinhardt and Grappelli. Personally I think it might be worth it to just go ahead and get the wonderful 5-CD set, "The Classic Early Recordings in Chronological Order," but if you'd rather start with just a single CD, just consider it a sampling and don't hesitate to check out some of Django's other recordings later. In any case, when it comes to Django Reinhardt CDs, you can hardly go wrong no matter which ones you choose.

59 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Masterful Fun, January 8, 2001

By 

David Bradley "David Bradley" (Sterling, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Best of Django Reinhardt (Audio CD)

If I could change one piece of the general perception of Django Reinhardt, it would be the "Jazz Master" label, which implies to too many people that this is stuffy concert hall music.

Reinhardt was thE jazz guitar master, but his records are damn good fun. Like all the best jazz, it's overflowing with emotion but, more often than not, that emotion is witty, boisterous excitement.

Don't limit yourself to just this Reinhardt CD. Considering the point in history when he was at his artistic peak, his music was generally well recorded, and several producers/engineers/labels have made great efforts to clean up the sound. If nothing else, check out the 5-CD "box set" (not really a box, but 5 great CDs shrinkwrapped together). While my Reinhardt collection is hardly complete, I have yet to come across a less-than-excellent recording of this wonderful music.