Django Reinhardt Outstanding European jazz guitarist, Belgian gypsy Date of Birth: 23.01.1910 Country: Belgium

1. Biography of Django Reinhardt
2. A Tragic Fire and the Birth of a Unique Technique
3. The Quintette Du Hot Club De France
4. A Shift in Reinhardt's Style and Influence
5. Later Years and Legacy

Biography of Django Reinhardt

Django Reinhardt, an outstanding European jazz guitarist, was born and raised in a gypsy camp where his family traveled across Europe, giving improvised concerts of gypsy music and theatrical performances in major cities. At a young age, Reinhardt excelled at playing the violin, but by the age of 15, the acoustic guitar became his instrument of choice. Reinhardt used a classical tuning, traditional gypsy tuning (which had nothing to do with the tuning used by gypsies in Russia), as well as his own unique tuning.

A Tragic Fire and the Birth of a Unique Technique

In 1928, a fire broke out in the camp, during which Reinhardt suffered severe burns and lost two fingers on his left hand. He overcame this setback by developing a unique playing technique that involved using his remaining fingers and his thumb. He then embarked on a solo career, performing in Parisian clubs.

The Quintette Du Hot Club De France

A major breakthrough came when Reinhardt was invited to work as an accompanist for the popular French singer Jean Sablon. In 1934, Reinhardt met the renowned violinist Stéphane Grappelli, and together they formed the musical ensemble Quintette Du Hot Club De France. Their joint performances with visiting American jazz musicians such as Eddie South, Benny Carter, and Coleman Hawkins were highly successful. Although both Reinhardt and Grappelli considered their ensemble secondary, the recordings of Quintette Du Hot Club De France brought them international fame. Reinhardt's virtuosic playing style caused a sensation and attracted the attention of leading European musicologists. He became the first non-American musician to have a significant influence on jazz and popular music of that time, greatly shaping their future development. Critics praised his "soaring and trembling guitar lines," unexpected melodic and rhythmic choices, and his sharp yet romantic strumming style. However, no guitarist dared to imitate Reinhardt's style at the time.

A Shift in Reinhardt's Style and Influence

Reinhardt's original style found followers much later, during the rise of guitar rock, jazz-rock, and fusion in the 1960s. Guitarists such as John McLaughlin, Lee Ritenour, Ron Wood, and Neal Schon consider him their teacher. However, Reinhardt's playing technique in the 1930s largely determined the evolution of jazz guitar. In 1939, shortly after the start of World War II, Quintette Du Hot Club De France disbanded, and Reinhardt returned to a nomadic lifestyle, performing in different European cities and avoiding areas occupied by the Nazis. By the end of the war, Reinhardt had switched from an acoustic to an electric guitar, and in May 1945, he received an invitation from Duke Ellington to visit New York. His trip to America was not successful, partly due to Reinhardt's behavior. His arrogant attitude towards the American audience, as a European celebrity, irritated Americans, resulting in disjointed joint performances. Reports in the American press suggested that Reinhardt's style would not fit into the emerging bebop revolution in jazz. However, Reinhardt accepted the challenge and proved himself capable of understanding the nature of the new style. He even outshone the leading guitarist of that time, Charlie Christian.

Later Years and Legacy

Upon returning to Europe, Reinhardt formed his own ensemble and occasionally played with Grappelli in a revived Quintette Du Hot Club De France. He performed concerts and recorded in studios throughout the 1940s and early 1950s, while also exploring his skills as a composer. After Reinhardt's death in 1953, his music lost popularity until Ray Cooder became interested in his works in the late 1980s. Cooder prepared a series of compilations featuring the guitarist. Some argue that in the end, Charlie Christian managed to reach Reinhardt's level and even surpass him in some aspects. However, contemporary guitarists who use Reinhardt's technique have a different opinion. Django Reinhardt's brother, Joseph Reinhardt, and his two sons, Lússon and Babik Reinhardt, were also excellent guitarists. In the early 1990s, Babik organized an international jazz festival in France, where his famous father's music was widely represented. Django Reinhardt is considered one of the top 100 greatest guitarists in the world, as determined by the American magazine "Musician" every five years.