Paris and London: 1937-1948, Vol. 2 [BOX SET] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

Django Reinhardt

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 8, 2001)
• Original Release Date: May 8, 2001
• Number of Discs: 4
• Format: Box set, Original recording remastered
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Jsp Records
• ASIN: B00005A7KP
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #42,668 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  #19 in	Music > Jazz > European Jazz
  #53 in	Music > World Music > Europe > Eastern Europe > Gypsy

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
JSP's follow-up to their must-have bargain-priced box set of Django Reinhardt's early recordings is every bit as essential and fascinating for lovers of jazz guitar. Between 1937 and 1948, the world's best-known gypsy guitarist was leading some of the hottest jazz groups in Europe, with some of the most innovative arrangements imaginable. The story behind these sessions is almost as memorable as the material--somehow Reinhardt, despite being a gypsy, prospered through Nazi-occupied France while his peers either fled or perished. Due to the war, the classic lineup of the Quintet of the Hot Club of France evolved and eventually splintered into two groups--one with Stephane Grappelli on violin, another replacing him with the clarinet of Hubert Rostaing. But regardless of Reinhardt's accompaniment, the music-making heard here is nothing short of astounding. Whether swinging through standards ("All of Me," "I Can't Give You Anything But Love," "Sweet Georgia Brown") or performing some of his classic originals ("Nuages," "Swing 42"), whether alone ("Improvisations," "Tea for Two") or backed by more than a dozen friends ("Festival Swing"), this is some of Reinhardt's best music. JSP's remastering and transfers on these 60-year-old 78s is the finest yet available. Essential for swing fans, guitarists, or anyone wanting to know more about the history of jazz. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great guitar... and beyond!, December 4, 2002

By A Customer

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.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars More Great Django, but without Ted Kendall, October 8, 2001

By	Randall E. Adams (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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).

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bouncin' Around, January 15, 2003

By	David Bradley "David Bradley" (Sterling, VA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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.