aphone was the first to record the group including: ‘Dinah’, ‘Tiger Rag’, ‘Oh Lady be Good’, and ‘I Saw Stars’. The records were a hit. The Quintet went on to record many more and found success on both sides of the ocean.
Jazz Manouche groups generally consisted of a lead guitar, violin, two rhythm guitars and bass. The rhythm guitars supply the percussive rhythm called la pompe, which, in conjunction with strongly syncopated bass lines make a percussion section redundant. The 2 rhythm guitars were necessary in the early 1930’s as there was no amplification available and dance halls were large and noisy. The use of Selmer guitars designed with Mario Maccaferri made it possible to generate the raw power needed to fill the hall with rhythmic drive. The solo guitar was also a Maccaferri design and had the loud cutting power to be heard over the rest of the band. Extended improvised solos on guitar and/or violin (and occasionally clarinet and accordion) were the norm. Reinhardt’s dusky, chromatic sound, with its melancholy undertones and swing articulation gave even light-weight songs weight and drive. His improvisations included ornamented arpeggios that were firmly anchored in rhythmic structures.
The second World War broke out in 1939 while the Quintet touring in England. Django returned to Paris while Stéphane remained in England. Django played and recorded throughout the war years substituting Hubert Rostaing’s clarinet for Stephen’s violin. His talent and willingness to remain outside the politics of war somehow allowed him to continue in Paris during the occupation. After the war he rejoined Stéphane and again played and recorded. He toured briefly with Duke Ellington in America and returned to Paris where he continued his career until 1951 when he retired to the small village of Samois Sur Seine. On May 16th 1953 Django suffered a massive stroke while chatting with friends at a local café. He died leaving behind his wife Sophie (Naguine) and son Babik.
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© 2008, Leonard Wyeth
Special thanks to the AcousticDisc website, Charles Delaunay and Joseph Dinkins