Recommendations for a n00b Django Reinhardt fan?
June 4, 2007 9:01 AM Subscribe
If you like Django Reinhardt, what/whom else would you like?
You might like the movie (or at least the music from the movie) Sweet and Lowdown.
posted by ostranenie at 9:08 AM on June 4, 2007
posted by ostranenie at 9:08 AM on June 4, 2007
Well, these recommendations are a bit idiosyncratic, but I got into him through Stephane Grappelli, who I found out about through fiddler Mark O'Connor, who plays with folks like Bela Fleck and mandolinist Sam Bush and dobro player Jerry Douglas of Union Station.
Recommended albums:
Stephane Grappelli: Live At The Blue Note. This is never going to be listed as an essential recording, but I enjoy it a lot, a Grappelli show from the early 1990s.
In Full Swing (a Grappelli/Reinhardt tribute), Heroes, and New Nashville Cats (more country-ish) by Mark O'Connor.
Also Strength in Numbers, The Telluride Sessions, by O'Connor, Bush, Fleck, Douglas, and I think Edgar Meyer on bass. That's not the same swing as Reinhardt, but it is terrific acoustic music.
posted by ibmcginty at 9:10 AM on June 4, 2007 [1 favorite]
Recommended albums:
Stephane Grappelli: Live At The Blue Note. This is never going to be listed as an essential recording, but I enjoy it a lot, a Grappelli show from the early 1990s.
In Full Swing (a Grappelli/Reinhardt tribute), Heroes, and New Nashville Cats (more country-ish) by Mark O'Connor.
Also Strength in Numbers, The Telluride Sessions, by O'Connor, Bush, Fleck, Douglas, and I think Edgar Meyer on bass. That's not the same swing as Reinhardt, but it is terrific acoustic music.
posted by ibmcginty at 9:10 AM on June 4, 2007 [1 favorite]
The Squirrel Nut Zippers kicked off the hot jazz/swing revivial back in the early 90's. And seconding the Sweet and Lowdown.
posted by JohnFredra at 9:12 AM on June 4, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by JohnFredra at 9:12 AM on June 4, 2007 [1 favorite]
Bireli LaGrene first came to notice because he sounded *exactly* like Reinhardt. He's got his own sound now, but there's still that gypsy-guitar-jazz feel.
Also, Le Hot Club du France.
Seconding Grappellis.
posted by kalimac at 9:18 AM on June 4, 2007
Also, Le Hot Club du France.
Seconding Grappellis.
posted by kalimac at 9:18 AM on June 4, 2007
Most jazz guitar that you'll hear about after Django sound very different, partly because the electric guitar began to dominate and partly because, well, they were playing bebop. Either way, it's still great stuff. I'd recommend Pat Martino -- his album El Hombre is one of my favorites.
Other than that, Stuff Smith was one of the greatest swing violinists there was. Give a listen to him and it'll make you wonder why the violin didn't become one of the iconic jazz instruments.
posted by invitapriore at 9:22 AM on June 4, 2007 [1 favorite]
Other than that, Stuff Smith was one of the greatest swing violinists there was. Give a listen to him and it'll make you wonder why the violin didn't become one of the iconic jazz instruments.
posted by invitapriore at 9:22 AM on June 4, 2007 [1 favorite]
Bireli Lagrene plays very much in the style of Django. Also, Dave Grisman's bands play what's known as dawg music, which is born from Django's music, gypsy jazz.
posted by wsg at 9:25 AM on June 4, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by wsg at 9:25 AM on June 4, 2007 [1 favorite]
Definitely The Rosenberg Trio. Wikipedia info.
There are some clips on You Tube and this Amazon page.
posted by FreezBoy at 9:54 AM on June 4, 2007 [1 favorite]
There are some clips on You Tube and this Amazon page.
posted by FreezBoy at 9:54 AM on June 4, 2007 [1 favorite]
Check out Joscho Stephan. He is a fantastic musician and plays in much the same style as Django did. He even has some Django covers.
posted by honeyx at 9:54 AM on June 4, 2007
posted by honeyx at 9:54 AM on June 4, 2007
The music in Sweet and Lowdown that ostranenie mentions is great for a Django fan, but as a guitar player I cringe when I watch Sean Penn pretend to play along. It's some of the worst guitar fakery I've seen on film. I like Johnny Depp's playing in Chocolat much better, as it's actually him.
I know it's not a movie question, but it's relevant.
posted by monkeymadness at 9:58 AM on June 4, 2007
I know it's not a movie question, but it's relevant.
posted by monkeymadness at 9:58 AM on June 4, 2007
The Squirrel Nut Zippers kicked off the hot jazz/swing revivial back in the early 90's.
Indeed, but I'd recommend going straight for Andrew Bird's Bowl of Fire.
posted by ludwig_van at 10:17 AM on June 4, 2007
Indeed, but I'd recommend going straight for Andrew Bird's Bowl of Fire.
posted by ludwig_van at 10:17 AM on June 4, 2007
Oscar Aleman, who was active at much the same time, might be a good one to check out (he was from Argentina). There are also a number of modern Gypsy Jazz groups, like Pearl Django and Hot Club of San Francisco. If you want a more American take, there's always Dan Hicks or Hot Club of Cowtown. There's plenty of interest in Django and his style of music these days, so you should have no trouble finding more.
posted by tommasz at 10:32 AM on June 4, 2007
posted by tommasz at 10:32 AM on June 4, 2007
Lenny Breau certainly doesn't get the credit he deserves, amazing sound, rare fingerpicking style and a true musicians musician. I found him after Django and a few others and his smooth flowing licks grabbed me right away.
posted by Cosine at 10:39 AM on June 4, 2007
posted by Cosine at 10:39 AM on June 4, 2007
Frank Vignola.
You have to love a gypsy jazz bluegrass guitarist willing to do a Slayer medley
posted by alikins at 10:59 AM on June 4, 2007
You have to love a gypsy jazz bluegrass guitarist willing to do a Slayer medley
posted by alikins at 10:59 AM on June 4, 2007
Bucky and John Pizzarelli.
posted by othersomethings at 11:01 AM on June 4, 2007
posted by othersomethings at 11:01 AM on June 4, 2007
You might like Joe Venuti.
posted by vilcxjo_BLANKA at 11:23 AM on June 4, 2007
posted by vilcxjo_BLANKA at 11:23 AM on June 4, 2007
I actually had someone ask for some Django-y music last week (he's one of my favorite guitarists), and I pointed them to Jon Rauhouse, who's been touring with Neko Case of late, but just released a solo album earlier this year. He's been known to cover Django in the past, as well. (Disclosure: I work for Jon's label)
posted by pfafflin at 11:40 AM on June 4, 2007
posted by pfafflin at 11:40 AM on June 4, 2007
Oscar Aleman is a no-brainer, in my opinion. He was an Argentinan contemporary of Django, and very very good.
Some Ob-Youtube clips for your enjoyment.
posted by melorama at 11:42 AM on June 4, 2007 [1 favorite]
Some Ob-Youtube clips for your enjoyment.
posted by melorama at 11:42 AM on June 4, 2007 [1 favorite]
There was a great animated French film out a few years ago called The Triplets of Belleville with music by Benoît Charest. There is a lot of guitar that sounds like Reinhardt's style but also has a real thumping bass and bizarre vocals and instruments.
Rent the movie to enjoy both.
posted by munchingzombie at 11:46 AM on June 4, 2007
Rent the movie to enjoy both.
posted by munchingzombie at 11:46 AM on June 4, 2007
John Jorgenson is a great gypsy jazz player. Also recommending Joscho Stephan, really the guy is 2nd to none.
posted by baphomet at 12:18 PM on June 4, 2007
posted by baphomet at 12:18 PM on June 4, 2007
Boulou Ferré used to follow very much in the same tradition as Django, though I don't think he has had an album out in a long time.
For a wider survey of gypsy swing, there's The Rough Guide to Gypsy Swing to provide a sampler.
posted by Quinbus Flestrin at 2:30 PM on June 4, 2007
For a wider survey of gypsy swing, there's The Rough Guide to Gypsy Swing to provide a sampler.
posted by Quinbus Flestrin at 2:30 PM on June 4, 2007
The Guitar Trio: Friday Night in San Francisco is an amazing album of blues, gypsy, flamenco, and jazz inspired improv by John McLaughlin, Paco de Lucia, and Al DiMeola. They have another more recent collaboration out, but I can't vouch for its quality.
Personally, I don't care much for the likes of the Squirrel Nut Zippers -- always found them a bit too campy.
If you can, find the album "Happy Feet" by 8 1/2 Souvenirs a now-defunct Austin band fronted by a French guitar player named Olivier Giraud who was very much a Django-style player. They remade the album Happy Feet 3 times -- each time they found a new singer (1st was Kathy Kiser; 2nd, and my favorite, was Juliana Sheffield; 3rd was Chrysta Bell). They made a couple albums after that, but they don't compare to any of the 3 Happy Feets.
Nthing Stephane Grappelli, Pat Martino, and Wes Montgomery, although the latter 2 don't really have a style much like Django's. Also in the Montgomery school of playing is Emily Remler, a wonderful guitarist who died very young. I should also mention the not as well known as Wes but almost as good Barney Kessel
Another wonderful guitarist, although again not very similar to Django but certainly influenced by him, is the late Joe Pass, largely known for his solo chord-melody performances. One of my favorite albums of his is his tribute to Bird, I Remember Charlie Parker.
He also played on a great album with Oscar Peterson (piano) and Stephane Grappelli, but I can't find a link to it. It's on the Original Jazz Classics label.
Another great early guitar player, who maybe ended up influencing subsequent jazz players more than Django, is the legendary Charlie Christian.
posted by papakwanz at 2:34 PM on June 4, 2007
Personally, I don't care much for the likes of the Squirrel Nut Zippers -- always found them a bit too campy.
If you can, find the album "Happy Feet" by 8 1/2 Souvenirs a now-defunct Austin band fronted by a French guitar player named Olivier Giraud who was very much a Django-style player. They remade the album Happy Feet 3 times -- each time they found a new singer (1st was Kathy Kiser; 2nd, and my favorite, was Juliana Sheffield; 3rd was Chrysta Bell). They made a couple albums after that, but they don't compare to any of the 3 Happy Feets.
Nthing Stephane Grappelli, Pat Martino, and Wes Montgomery, although the latter 2 don't really have a style much like Django's. Also in the Montgomery school of playing is Emily Remler, a wonderful guitarist who died very young. I should also mention the not as well known as Wes but almost as good Barney Kessel
Another wonderful guitarist, although again not very similar to Django but certainly influenced by him, is the late Joe Pass, largely known for his solo chord-melody performances. One of my favorite albums of his is his tribute to Bird, I Remember Charlie Parker.
He also played on a great album with Oscar Peterson (piano) and Stephane Grappelli, but I can't find a link to it. It's on the Original Jazz Classics label.
Another great early guitar player, who maybe ended up influencing subsequent jazz players more than Django, is the legendary Charlie Christian.
posted by papakwanz at 2:34 PM on June 4, 2007
James Carter, neo-Coltranian saxophonist, recorded an album called Chasin' the Gypsy that is a tribute to Django.
posted by HeroZero at 5:35 PM on June 4, 2007
posted by HeroZero at 5:35 PM on June 4, 2007
Not jazz, but Leo Kottke does amazing, amazing things with a guitar.
posted by zardoz at 5:20 AM on June 5, 2007
posted by zardoz at 5:20 AM on June 5, 2007
If you go the above mentioned Pandora.com route, for your sanity enter a particular Django song that you really like. Entering just an artist leads to suggestions that are all over the map. Which is good for some things but drives me mostly batshit insane.
posted by bilabial at 8:20 AM on June 5, 2007
posted by bilabial at 8:20 AM on June 5, 2007
This thread is closed to new comments.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wes_Montgomery
posted by oigocosas at 9:08 AM on June 4, 2007 [1 favorite]