4.0 out of 5 stars
The Greatest Guitarist Who Ever Lived Now In MLPS Format!, June 18, 2011
This review is from: Djangology (Audio CD)
Fans of who the late great Les Paul called the greatest guitarist ever are in for a treat here on this mini-lp replica (mlps) sleeve version of this late 1940s recording of the reunion of Reinhardt with his great pal and musical collaborator Grappelly after the second world war. As far as mlps releases go this has been very well designed and assembled although truth be told the sound quality isn't excellent given what must be the severely deteriorated state of the original masters and so we get quite a lot of static and some hissing in parts but you can tell that some effort has gone into limiting this in the remastering. Unless you are very picky though this doesn't completely ruin the listening experience as you hear both Grappelly and Reinhardt play beautiful improvisations of familiar tunes of the time. Reinhardt was playing incredibly fast on an archtop acoustic guitar which was not built for speed the way electric guitars are today and he was doing it with just effectively 2 fingers on the left hand having had the last two fused together after an accident involving a fire in his caravan!
I would have loved to have been at a concert of his just to see how he managed the incredible licks he plays here with a challenge like that. Although his speed and note accuracy was impressive his feel and phrasing was even more impressive as he uses the whole guitar neck alternating playing in the upper range with spells in the lower as well all the while playing to the chord changes masterfully. Even his rhythm guitar work when Grappelly does his solos is very competent and memorable. Much has to be said about Grappelly's work as well as he also improvises very well and just like Duane Allman and Dickey Betts used to do with the Allman Brothers Band the two would take turns kicking each others behind to force out only the very best out of each other. Listening to Reinhardt play, you can hear many cliches that even the early rock guitarists used like tremolo picking and even artificial harmonics among other technigues that makes this album a joy to hear if you are an experienced guitarist let alone an aspiring jazz or even rock guitarist.
Great mlps design, ok sound quality given the age and excellent content makes this album essential listening for all guitarists - lead or rhythm irrespective of genre - as well as for fans of early European-style hot jazz. Just marvel at the playing of the best guitarist the world has ever known remembering that he only had 2 unharmed fingers to fret with!
Highly recommended!
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