Customer Reviews

Paris & London 1937-48 2

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I got "Paris and London" and JSP's other great box set, "The Classic Early Recordings in Chronological Order," at roughly the same time, and for a while I listened constantly to the "Early Recordings" and pretty much neglected this set. One reason is that the "Early Recordings" are so great that I couldn't tear myself away, but another reason is that the "Paris and London" set includes more large-ensemble recordings that have taken me a little longer to appreciate. By my taste, at least, Django is at his best in small acoustic settings (e.g., in the famous Quintet of the Hot Club of France, or even soloing or just accompanied by piano). "Paris and London" does contain a number of songs by the original Hot Club (including Stephane Grappelli), and most of those rank with the very best on the "Early Recordings" set --- but there are also a number of wartime recordings (made while Grappelli was stranded in London) that have a more standard jazz ensemble sound (featuring Hubert Rostaing on clarinet in place of Grappelli's violin), as well as a few performed with large orchestras, and at first I found those a little less appealing. My view changed a little, though, when I read in Django's biography (by his contemporary, the French music critic Charles Delaunay) that by this stage of his career Django was becoming more interested in composing and arranging than in simply playing guitar, and that he felt there were more musical possibilities in larger groups than within the limitations of the string quintet (three guitars, bass and violin). So I've been going back and listening to these large-ensemble recordings with a new ear, and I guess I can say that it's expanded my musical horizons a little. As a guitarist myself, I'm naturally partial to Django's remarkable lead guitar playing, but with the larger groups his role is more like Duke Ellington's on the piano (that is, using his guitar more as the cohesion behind the arrangements than as a lead instrument). So on these recordings you get a fuller sense of Django's overall musical vision, beyond just his virtuoso guitar playing. In any case, even if you're mainly just interested in hearing Django's guitar, you won't be disappointed, because these recordings include some of his best. Also, I see that one reviewer criticized the sound quality of this set as compared to the "Early Recordings," but I'm not sure I'd agree. That reviewer may have better equipment and a more highly-trained ear than I do, but on my equipment these recordings sound just fine --- and in some cases even more sharp and clear than the "Early Recordings." In any case, don't let that consideration deter you from purchasing this great 4-CD set. If you don't already own the "Classic Early Recordings in Chronological Order," then by all means start with that. Then, if you like that set (and who wouldn't?), don't hesitate to get this one too. They both show Django at his best, and this one in particular shows his versatility and broad musical vision.

I certainly agree with the other reviewers about the music here being terrific. I also favor the small ensemble work rather than the larger aggregations. After all, there's more Django in the small arrangements.

But I do have to comment on the sound quality. One of the remarkable things about the first installment of this set (the 5 CD box) is its sound. Engineer Ted Kendall did a sterling job of collecting the best quality sources and then cutting as little as possible from the output to give us the music. By contrast, this set is far less impressive. There is much less depth to the bass and the high end has been truncated a bit too in the interest of getting rid of surface noise.

It is because of the sound that I give this set three stars (and really would give it three and one-half if there was that option).

For someone like me who loves every note Django Reinhardt ever played this 4-CD collection and another 5-CD set also available on Amazon, "Django Reinhardt: The Classic Early Recordings in Chronological Order," are the Holy Grail. Between the two sets I can load up the CD player with 9 discs and listen to this most unbelievable of all guitar players show off for hours at a time.

There is more swing, more fun, and more incredible guitar playing on these discs than you'll ever hear anywhere else.

Even though they contain no lengthy linear notes, 'free booklets,' posters, etc., these are, without a doubt, the greatest multi-disc box sets I have ever heard.

I'm going to start a JSP fan club, for consistently putting out excellent compilations at reasonable prices. I also recommend their Armstrong and Jelly Roll Morton sets.

My first real introduction to Django was vol. 1 from JSP, which at 5 CDs was an overwhelming but wonderful experience. Vol 2 is slightly shorter ("only" 4 CDs) but covers more ground, both in time span and variety of music. The war-time recordings that take up the middle portion of the set use all sorts of additional instruments (harmonica!), and some show a much stronger European classical music influence. Quite a few of these tracks have a suprisingly moody, atmospheric feel. Others sound more like American swing bands (Rostaing on clarinet invites Benny Goodman comparisons).

However, it is still the tracks with small string-based bands, especially with Grapelli's violin, that really throw off sparks. The first disc, in particular, is simply unbelievable, and it took me some time to move on to the subsequent discs - I just kept playing disc 1! This is the Quintet at its peak, exceeding my wildest expectations.

So, as interesting and enjoyable as the war-time tracks are, they tend to dilute the intensity and quality of the package, at least a little. I'd therefore recommend vol. 1 as more essential, and the place to start.

Packaging notes: True to JSP budget-priced form (quality sound being more important than pretty pictures), the packaging is skimpy, with all essential documentation (personnel, dates, etc.) and some limited commentary, and that's it. While the design is more professional looking than the rather amateurish graphics of volume 1, I miss Ted Kendall's chatty, personable liner notes.

I didn't think it could get any better then the first JSP boxed set, "Classic Early Recordings in Chronological Order", but this new 4 CD Set, "Vol. 2-Paris & London 1937-48", takes off right were the other one left. You still get the nice combo of Django's guitar w/ Stephane's violin on a handful of tracks. But with the fresh sound of Hubert Rostaing on Clarinet, your treated to a whole new dimension of Django's music. As a bonus, Django plays solo on a few tracks and his new ensamble with reeds, brass, harmonica and vibes really hits the spot. Tremendous sound quality and clarity. Another great remastering job by the crew at JSP. This collection belongs in everyone's Jazz library, right next to volume 1.

In my opinion, "Paris & London 1937-48" is slightly better than "Classic Early Recordings in Chronogical Order". Considering the source material, JSP did an excellent job remastering this collection.

I'm afraid I have to agree with a couple of other reviewers here. While the earlier Django box set on JSP was remastered from original sources with excellent results, this set is very inconsistent. Some of the earliest tracks sound good. The latest tracks from 1947 and 1948 are also in decent sound. The rest, however, are often flat and "boxy" sounding. They're not terrible, just not up to the standard of some of the other JSP boxes. In fact, it's worth pointing out that there are two distinct types of JSP product out there. Some of the label's box sets contain music clearly remastered from original sources. Often, this remastering was done years ago (e.g. by the late John RT Davies or his protege Ted Kendall) and has now been repackaged in box sets. These are the box sets that have earned JSP its reputation for quality at a low price (the Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong, Mills Brothers, and first Django Reinhardt sets are examples). The other type of box set by JSP contains music derived from more mysterious sources. If you look carefully, these sets never credit anyone specifically for the remastering, and the sound is often inconsistent. Some of them are very good (the first Carter Family set, for example), and others are disappointing. Unfortunately, I have to place this second volume of Django Reinhardt's music in the latter category. That's too bad, because the music on this set is great.

Django is my man, and I've always found these to be some of his most fetching recordings. The sound is a bit bland for my tastes, though. JSP puts out an inconsistent product at times.