During one performance, Sergovia was in the audience and was amazed at Django’s playing. After the performance, Sergovia approached Django and asked where he could buy the sheet music for his what he was playing. Django apparently just laughed and explained he had ‘just’ been improvising.
Tony Iommi cut off his finger tips while using a sheet metal cutter at his job place. He was an amazing guitarist and was surely going to be a success and thought his career was over. His boss brought him into his office and played him a recording of Django Reinhardt to show him that he could still be a success despite his injury. The rest is history.
Andres Ramirez Tony said it in a kind of “ tell all” interview. It may have been promoting his book. He had just got signed, he was working a job and was just going to stay home and not go back to work because he had gotten a deal. His mom said “ that’s not fair to your employer, you must finish the day out” he went back to work and cut off his finger tips on his fret hand. He was feeling depressed ( obviously) thinking it was all over. When his foreman or boss visited him in the hospital and related the Django story. Tony then went on to basically invent heavy metal music.
My dad was a guitarist who grew up in the depression and fought in the Normandy invasion. He had a special affection for Django. I grew up listening to Django and it brings me joy every time I hear his music. He imbued incredible joy and energy in his music. I'm so grateful that you highlighted him. He was an inspiration to so many. And still is thanks to you! 💖
I know BB King dug him. Such an inspiration! After losing my left leg and my sight partially, I was ready to quit. After 5 years of no playing, I said Django did it with 2 fingers, so can you! The only limits any of us have are the ones we impose upon ourselves! Thanks Fil once again for the great vids and inspiration!
Ridiculously hard run at 3:35 with four fingers let alone two! He’s the king of gypsy jazz guitar...he died way to young at 43😔. One of the best gypsy guitarist out there now is named Joscho Stephan. He’s German 🤔
One of Glen Campbell's major influences in terms of playing guitar was Reinhardt. Beginning when Glen was young, he played Reinhardt's records over and over, learning by ((ear)) from this trailblazer. Thanks so much for featuring a guitar master from way back!
Djanjo Reinhardt had obstacles, but that never stopped him from doing amazing things with the guitar. He influenced so many people in the music world. May he rest in peace. Great video. Cheers Fil.
I watch several "react" post. But You may be the best for the simple reason You go back to the roots and seem to really enjoy and respect the People you react to.
I've viewed 2 or 3 react channels a hand ful of times and came to the conclusion they were a complete waste of time. Fil is another story. I look forward to every installment. He plays guitar so he points out aspects then tries to explain them in a logical manner. For all i know, he's inspired people to give it a go them selves.
@@vmat1000 They're a novelty based on supposedly exploiting the breaking of stereotypes to get either money or attention. But tell you what, if any of those people actually learn and appreciate the music because of it the world is better off a little bit
Ok. Django mesmerized me the first time I heard him. Not just the skill but the amazing ability to take you on an emotional roller coaster ride. One of a kind.
I’ve been a Django fan for years. Never could figure out how the hell he did that stuff with limited digits, but so glad he did. Thanks, Fil, for bringing this one to us. It’s absolutely awesome that at your young age you have an appreciation of some of the old greats…thanks!
I've listened to Django for many hours in my life. I'm a classical pianist - what I am amazed by the most is his musicality. For example his tone is just heart-melting. My favourite piece by him is "Manoir de mes reves" where in the middle he plays the solo - and immediately the last note of the first phrase, the tender gentle vibrato, the wonderful sonority and projection... Ehh, what I mean is I could possibly fall in love with his music based on just one single note without any context, just the quality of the sound. And then there's the genius and the wonderful music.
Yes this Song is wonderful! There are so many top guitarists out there, mostly playing fast and impressive. But there are so few who focus on the melody and the harmony! Fast playing is a nice thing, but its senseless without melody and harmony. Django was a true and heart touching master, i love his music!
You are spot on. Most modern Gypsy jazz guitarists concentrate on emulating Django,s blistering speed buts it's just monotonous and boring withought phrasing and timing and emotion Django knew instinctively when to hold back and keep you enthralled and when to let loose with a devastating run
Several years ago I read a magazine interview where Jeff Beck said that he rated Django as being the greatest guitarist ever. He also said that he rated John McLaughlin as being the best living guitarist.
A friend of mine, a pianist by the name of Alan Clare, who passed away some time ago now, told me a story of a time just. after the war in the late 1940s when Django paid a visit to London and stayed at the flat of guitarist Dave Goldberg in Old Compton Street. Alan and Django were walking along the street around midnight and there was a bright full moon high in the sky. Django exclaimed (in French of course) "Goodness me, look at the moon, it's exactly the same as the one we have in France !" Incidentally when I started learning the guitar in 1956 at the age of eight, my teacher started me off listening to "Hot Club" recordings - I have never recovered since ! Thanks for posting this - it is delightful !
I have read a lot about Django and he could be very naive and childlike he was very contradictory and it's really hard to get a handle on his personality no two people describe him the same. One says he was kind the other says he was greedy one says he was arrogant the other says he was humble he was full of contradictions. But what I can say with certainty is he was the best guitar player I have ever heard by a long way. He had it all
Django was and is an inspiration for all who love guitar playing,in any genre.A true genious that created a singular jazz style which i love and with a bunch of "sons".
Check out his later recordings 1946 -53 he is absolutely fab; his note choice through really complex chord progressions and the speed and accuracy of his picking would embarrass many modern shredders or jazzers -I really do think he is king of the guitar he pioneered it as a soloists instrument for modern music.
He not only play fast (that lick at 3:34 omg) he play fast, but most important, in a beautiful and melodic way. Such an amazing guitarist. I recommend listen "I´ll see you in my dreams". Please sorry for my english, Im from Argentina
Few musicians, especially guitarists, cannot be fascinated or enthusiastic about Django's music. He is an absolute exceptional talent. His musicality is unique and has influenced countless musicians. I was very lucky to be able to experience Stéphane Grapelli live and visit him backstage. He was so sympathetic and charming.
He actually played with some of the best in the world as well, Coleman Hawkins, Duke Ellington, Benny Carter to name a few. Not many European jazz players can say the same during that era, if any. They say that when Hawkins came to Europe he would jam with Django on a single tune for over 40 minutes for practice
@@01warmus Thanks for the additional information. Apparently a lot of people have anecdotes to share on this. He was truly a great guitarist of his time as well as our time.
I've been a player of this style for over 17 years playing professionally. Django 's genius is his style besides being an astounding technical player. When you transcribe his solos and learn how to play it with two fingers it becomes a lot more intuitive and actually easier versus 4 fingers. Before his accident, Django was playing as a pro in Parisian musette dance halls from age 9 and actually started on violin. He was a prodigy/genius and literally a walking tape recorder. They use to play a musical game in the Gypsy camps where players would play 8 bars or so of a unique melody one after another and you had to copy the melodies. The story goes that Django was able to replicate 16 melodies in a row flawlessly after hearing it once. It's clear that he also developed his sound by his musical God, Louis Armstrong. You can actually hear it in his phrasing in Saint Louis Blues and earlier 1920's recordings before he evolved into bebop. The 1st time he heard Louis Armstrong was on a wax drum recording, he apparently froze in the middle of the room and swore in Romany and said "...my brother, my brother..." repeatedly. One more story: Django could not read or write, it's funny when looking at pictures of him pretend reading or writing which he staged to make him appear more intellectual/educated. When he arrived in the US on Duke Ellington's invitation, when Duke inquired what key he preferred Django had no concept what he was talking about and said that he was happy with his hotel keys. lol
Thanks for doing the incomparable Django Reinhardt; what a great soulful guitarist . Even though there are hundreds of songs he recorded, there is very little film of him.
There was a film of minor swing at Hammersmith Palaus on TH-cam but it got taken down in 2002 and must be in a vault somewhere. His fingers follow the recorded solo exactly so it may have been a case of expert lip sync. Sync sound was very complicated for hi fi in 1937-38.
Thanks so much for covering Django, I wasn't expecting this! I had the good fortune to see Stephan Grappelli in the late 70's at a smallish club. Didn't really know what to expect, just knew that it was jazz violin, and we were blown away! Martin Taylor was on guitar, and that was the first time I saw someone play super fast runs on acoustic guitar. Wow! Saw Martin again years later with David Grisman, had a chance to chat with him about seeing him with Stephan, he was very friendly.
Oh wow! This takes me back to my childhood. I had an uncle who was an astoundingly good guitarist (he could play anything but guitar was his favorite) and his hero was Django. He played his records over and over. My uncle would be a little over 100 if he were alive today He would have loved seeing your analysis!
Fabulous Fil! Thank you for presenting Django. My understanding is that he had burns on quite a bit of his body which led to having to use a cane. Both physical and political stress...to still be creative. He kept going even though he could have been thrown in a concentration camp for being a gypsy or a jazz artist. What a great man and of course the power of music! Thanx!
The DJANGO story should be required learning for everyone. Even people who don’t listen to music or play guitar. The world would be a better place. Bravo Fil.
For me, this is the most important clip ever saved and memorialized on TH-cam. There is next to nothing existing of Django on video. This is it, basically. How valuable would be found film of Django?! I've watched this about 1000 times and am always awestruck. These guys were comparable to the Beatles in quality and quantity of genius recordings. Grapelli and Reinhart = Lennon and McCartney
Django was a huge influence on guitarists like Les Paul, Jeff Beck, Jerry Garcia and so many great players. He is still inspiring guitarists today along with those over the past six decades. He's one of the few guitarists who have written their own musical canon for that instrument changing it forever.
What a great story having to deal with not only his environment but also his physical limitations, amazing player! I'm sure that this man has been an inspiration to many through the years, being a non-player myself it was a true pleasure!Good one Fil ♡
Fil, I mentioned this guitar player on another of your (more recent) videos, and you replied that you had done him. It took me a minute to find it, but yes, you did feature him...here. Thank you. This jazz notable should be more heralded than what he has been. Thanks that a young man such as you do some of these older players right, by helping to keep their memories alive and on everyone's radar. I love so many of your videos on here.
As amazing as Django Reinhardt was, I think you may have focused a little too much on the "overcoming adversity" aspect of his story. What struck me in his solo was its melodicsm, swing, and surprise; it did not go where I expected.
Good point. In fact ... NOT to say that losing two fingers is a good thing ... but if I try as an experiment to play with ONLY my first two fingers ... I get a little glimpse of a different approach to the guitar. My musical brain starts really thinking about melody instead of scale shapes and standard guitar stuff. Django could probably blow us away with one finger.
My parents instilled a love of all music in my brothers and me. We listened to everything and loved it all. My parents used to go downtown to East St. Louis and dance to the Ike and Tina Turner Review but they loved Classical too... Fil I truly appreciate that you feature artists from ever genre of music and especially that you can always find the beauty and proficiency in what they are preforming. 🎼🖤
In the early eighties I only used to watch live bands and I'd often strike up a conversation with guitarists because i loved Rock music and I was search for that thing that made the music give me goosebumps. Django was always mentioned as an inspiration. I eventually found that "thang" the more I played guitar. It was the "blues note".
Enjoyed your video. John McLaughlin is probably one of the most technically proficient acoustic guitarists ever. He recently said that he still can’t play some of the things Django played. I suppose that would work both ways 😀 You can hear Django’s influence on JM and many other great players. Toni Iommi was inspired by his perseverance through disablement. Personally I just want to pick up my guitar every time I hear him or any other guitarists who plays in “gypsy” style. There is something really free immediate and energising in that style.
Django Reinhardt is the greatest guitarist that ever lived for a number of reasons. This isn't even django playing anywhere near his best but it's still good. Djangos style is a mixture of late 18th century jazz which was played on a banjo hence why gypsy guitars have that banjo sound which is infused with the warmth of the American jazz players of the time and he was inspired by both interpretations of jazz. Not only was he inspired by that, his music is also infused with classical. Debussy was a huge influence on him snd they were alive in the same period and the way he seen it Debussy was the only musician alive who understood what django was trying to achieve musically. Also hugely inspired by Francisco tarrega especially capricho arabe where django plays identical passages in his piece " improvisation no 1" which is extremely difficult to play. Some examplss of his virtuosity can be heard in manoir de mes reves which has one of the greatest guitar solos ever played, embraceable you,diminishing, I'll see you in my dreams, improvisation no 2(which is essentially a classical piece) old man river, lover man, honeysuckle rose( the live version with Bill Bethel on drums) and loads more. Django could play runs that no one alive at the time Could play and people would still struggle with he was extremely fast with his left and right hand if you haven't checked out any of The above recordings do because this is one of the greatest musicians that ever lived.
Yeah this isn't his best playing but unfortunately live footage from that time is very rare and we are lucky to have the little that's available and that he played jazz, a genre that was respected enough to consider filming at that time. Blues wasn't considered worth the effort so little of it was even recorded much less filmed.
It's amazing that despite his disability, he could play songs like Mystery Pacific so fast that the rest of the band struggled to keep up. Django and Stefan were also a really unlikely pairing, with Stefan being very disciplined and Django having a much more casual approach to all things and such different backgrounds in life. I guess it's evidence of how music can unify and bring people together.
Inspirational!! Django Reinhardt was the only artist from my dad's music that I could stand when I was young (back in the 60's). Dad had an album of Reinhardt, Grappelli, and the Hot 5 -- and we, as kids, played it over and over again. It competed for playtime with The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich. It was the only one of dad's album's that was allowed anywhere near the record player when dad wasn't around. I had no idea about his disability, or suppression by the Nazis, until your clip. I was just entranced by his upbeat virtuoso style. Thank you, yet again, for another brilliant clip.
The best there ever was , phrasing , timing .............cleverness in the solos.......its all amazing.............his personality rings through on everything AmAZING
Thanks for reviewing this video, I've watched it numerous times and I'm amazed that Django Reinhardt, I have to vinyl albums of him and stephane Grappelli, they are hardly ever off the autochanger :)
You continue to show us fans of music and talent (aka people who play an instrument but are not musicians) insights, history and technical information that bring us back every time - regardless of who you are reviewing. I'm a 60 y.o. American that really enjoys hearing talent from abroad. One group I'd love to hear your view of is Katzenjammer. All female band - all play multiple instruments and appear to be dedicated musicians/performers (I saw a vid where the lead vocalist was performing at what appears to be 9 months pregnant. Impressive.) They also seem to have a fan base that is riveted to them on stage. Rock, jazz, Dixieland jazz, polka - and impressive harmonies. Based on what I've learned from you, and occasionally via my own ear, they seem to have an occasional technical flaw, but lots of fun to watch and listen to. Thank you for what you do.
Spectacular video. My favorite of yours so far. I really enjoyed the history and the stories at the end. You should add those stories more often! Great video!
The same rock and roller guitar teacher of mine that turned me onto Glen Campbell also told me about Django but, at that time you couldn't go to youtube and see him play. When I finally saw him play I didn't play for a week. Now we have Willie for a little while longer.
Ah found it. I went to the Django festival just outside Paris once and it was amazing. People and artists come from all over the world to play at it. Whenever I hear Django I think of the movie sweet and lowdown, a mockumentary about the second best gipsy jazz guitarist played by Sean Penn.
Regardless of the song, these old recordings never cease to amaze me. From the depths of sadness and dispair to extreme joys, any song he played is instantly identifiable. BTW, there's a company that still makes these old Selmer designed guitars. Buying a Selmer 503, however, doesn't guarantee that you'll play this well... You will get credit for having one of the coolest guitars around though! LOL!
Hi guys, just to let you know after I read a comment I 'like' and 'love' it to indicate I've read it! I respond to as many as I can, and write down every request. ROCK! \m/
Amazing how the internet is bringing to life with such clarity, thanks to the accessibility of these videos, amazing players like Django. When I first started playing guitar I'd heard his name come up in typical lists of "greatest guitarists ever" and that sort of thing. But it wasnt till about a year or 2 ago that I actually saw that 1939 J'attendrai video for the first time, and like you I was absolutely blown away. Before I saw that video I mostly just played rock and heavy metal guitar, but since then I've been playing almost exclusively jazz. Seriously, that Django clip was life changing for me.
Inspirational! A testament of what you can achieve with practice, love of the instrument and most importantly heart!!!!!! Now that's what I call a conqueror ! Many would find hard to play that piece with all their fingers working let alone two!!! Success in all its forms is a state of mind!!!! Just so amazing to listen to!!!! Thanks Fil !!!!!👌👌👌👌👌👌👌
If you notice the positioning of the band is key. Bass lifted and toward the back so it can push the bottom. His brothers on each side with slight distance variation; playing different chord voicing, giving a wide stereophonic mid-range quality. Django out front so the melodies can ride the waves. And the violin soars above.These guys knew how to move air. Great vids, Man!
Thanks, Fil, for bringing Django into the 21st century (right now, we are not too far from 2020). To be honest, I had never heard of him. I am so impressed with his technical wizardry. And the struggles he overcame is a great inspiration to me & I am sure to many others.
That was unexpected, but it shows that you know the history of your instrument. Thanks for thinking out of the box. U got to love Django, he's the the final boss of gypsy jazz.
I have heard of this genius all my life as a huge Tony Iommi fan, but this is my first time seeing and hearing him for myself. Thank you for the introduction ! I loved your Samantha Fish video, big pleasant surprise for me!
Great pic Fil, this guy influenced countless guitarists, particularly back in the 60's I believe; a lot of the shred playing evolved from him. He paid his dues that's for sure, quite a history he had growing up and developing. Lots of lessons to be learned from him.
Django and Charlie Christian were both prologue to what became jazz guitar. CC in America with his swing/blues (overdriven) electric and DJ in Europe with his unique chromatism played on an odd-looking acoustic. Gypsy and other regional folk music inspired many of the "Masters" of Baroque, Classical, and Romantic music. Django is part of this tradition.
I saw on the LS chat last night that you had done an analysis of Django Reinhardt and I had to check it out. I discovered Django thanks to a movie called Sweet & Lowdown made back in the 90's. His music is transporting - it takes my imagination to that time. I don't think I ever knew about his finger damage. That he was able to adapt is a triumph of the human spirit. 🖤🤘
My earliest childhood memories are of my fathers Django Reinhardt EPs which we would play on a gramophone. If you go to some bars in Paris you wills see and hear many Gypsy Jazz musicians continuing Django's tradition.
Listen to Django then listen to Willie Nelson's style. Django is Willie's main inspiration when it comes to soloing. Best showcases are the albums "Spirit" (1996) and "Teatro" (1998).
Fil, the easiest way to describe the timing of his beautiful run is to get your viewers to just watch the expression on your face.. BTW if you can find it there was a film on Julian Bream where he is actually at a party and starts playing Django style.. This man was a major influence on so many guitarists and musicians. Cheers
Great feature and analysis, Fil. I'm pretty sure I've heard somewhere that Tony Iommi knew of the difficulties that Django coped with, and was inspired by that to keep playing after his own accident, although he had much less of an impediment, and better means of overcoming it (his original prosthetic finger extensions were from a melted washing up liquid bottle, and moulded to his fingers himself). The rest, as they say, is history! And many other musicians have fought against seemingly insurmountable odds to achieve their success - the first person ever to achieve a career as a full time touring feature virtuoso percussionist was Dame Evelyn Glennie CH - profoundly deaf by the age of 11due to a condition which caused her hearing to deteriorate from age 2. In addition to hundreds of percussive instruments, she also plays Clarinet, harmonica and Highland bagpipes. You knew I'd particularly enjoy hearing Stephane Grappelli as well, didn't you? :-)
FIL, THANKS FOR COVERING THIS FORGOTTEN ARTIST IN TODAYS WORLD. THIS MAN WAS A GENIOUS, DUE TO HIS PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENTS, JUST SPECTACULAR, I STARTED TO PLAY NYLON STRING GUITARS BECAUSE OF HIM. IT IS THAT SPECIAL SOUND IT HAS, ALSO YOU KNOW THAT HE IS WILLIE NELSONS HERO, EVERY NIGHT THAT WILLIE PLAYS YOU CAN HEAR DJANGO, COUSIN FIGEL
I love Django’s playing... for someone who couldn’t read music, his timing & phrasing was incredible, not to mention his undeniable talent...I’v listen to Django for many years... even tho I play thrash metal, I have an ear for music...& people like Django & Doc Watson playing guitar through adversity...touches my black heart. I try my best to improvise some of the gypsy jazz that Django & Grapelli played. I can’t touch him... if ye know what I mean Fil😉
When there's a will there's a way...and this amazing man proves that. Thank you for showing this, it's an incredible story. It's the outsiders that make the biggest & most lasting changes!
During one performance, Sergovia was in the audience and was amazed at Django’s playing. After the performance, Sergovia approached Django and asked where he could buy the sheet music for his what he was playing. Django apparently just laughed and explained he had ‘just’ been improvising.
😂👍
🤣thats quite funny
Last Tango soundtrack?
If you can find or surmise the Guitars here, T Bone. Lonnie Johnson and Memphis Minnie.? Thanks Very Much!
Django was largely illiterate and didn't read music.
Fil, the fact that a young man like yourself can appreciate and enjoy the old masters is heartening.
Seconded.
I'm about Fil's age, I reckon, and love this music, so I'm going to absorb some of that "young man" compliment, if you don't mind! 👍😎
@@5amH45lam Please do :-)
Tony Iommi cut off his finger tips while using a sheet metal cutter at his job place. He was an amazing guitarist and was surely going to be a success and thought his career was over. His boss brought him into his office and played him a recording of Django Reinhardt to show him that he could still be a success despite his injury. The rest is history.
👍
Tru dat
WHO would have thought they would EVER see the names, ' Django Reinhardt ', and, ' Tony Iommi ', in the SAME paragraph! HA! :-)
I hadn’t known the part of Django! Mind sharing how you know? Was it said in an interview or in a book! I’d love to check it out! Cheers
Andres Ramirez Tony said it in a kind of “ tell all” interview. It may have been promoting his book. He had just got signed, he was working a job and was just going to stay home and not go back to work because he had gotten a deal. His mom said “ that’s not fair to your employer, you must finish the day out” he went back to work and cut off his finger tips on his fret hand. He was feeling depressed ( obviously) thinking it was all over. When his foreman or boss visited him in the hospital and related the Django story. Tony then went on to basically invent heavy metal music.
My dad was a guitarist who grew up in the depression and fought in the Normandy invasion. He had a special affection for Django. I grew up listening to Django and it brings me joy every time I hear his music. He imbued incredible joy and energy in his music. I'm so grateful that you highlighted him. He was an inspiration to so many. And still is thanks to you! 💖
I know BB King dug him. Such an inspiration! After losing my left leg and my sight partially, I was ready to quit. After 5 years of no playing, I said Django did it with 2 fingers, so can you! The only limits any of us have are the ones we impose upon ourselves! Thanks Fil once again for the great vids and inspiration!
No problem!
Ridiculously hard run at 3:35 with four fingers let alone two! He’s the king of gypsy jazz guitar...he died way to young at 43😔. One of the best gypsy guitarist out there now is named Joscho Stephan. He’s German 🤔
👍
Wait, he invented the genre. Right?
Jazz Cat
Rosenberg Trio are Dutch Gypsys. Been around for a long while. Don’t know if you know them but they are worth a look.
Marcel Boogaard just uploaded some of their stuff on Spotify, gonna check it out Thanks!
Joscho is great, birellli is king, Sylvain is jester, stochello is prince, Jimmy is on smac
One of Glen Campbell's major influences in terms of playing guitar was Reinhardt. Beginning when Glen was young, he played Reinhardt's records over and over, learning by ((ear)) from this trailblazer. Thanks so much for featuring a guitar master from way back!
No problem!
Jeff Beck called him one of the greatest guitar players of all time.He was an influence on Ritchie Blackmore when he was a kid.
Djanjo Reinhardt had obstacles, but that never stopped him from doing amazing things with the guitar. He influenced so many people in the music world. May he rest in peace. Great video. Cheers Fil.
I watch several "react" post. But You may be the best for the simple reason You go back to the roots and seem to really enjoy and respect the People you react to.
Thanks! Yeah these are the old school ones!
I've viewed 2 or 3 react channels a hand ful of times and came to the conclusion they were a complete waste of time. Fil is another story. I look forward to every installment. He plays guitar so he points out aspects then tries to explain them in a logical manner. For all i know, he's inspired people to give it a go them selves.
@Richard Davis So, no Paco de Lucia y Camaron?
@@vmat1000 They're a novelty based on supposedly exploiting the breaking of stereotypes to get either money or attention. But tell you what, if any of those people actually learn and appreciate the music because of it the world is better off a little bit
I love that about Fil too.
Ok. Django mesmerized me the first time I heard him. Not just the skill but the amazing ability to take you on an emotional roller coaster ride. One of a kind.
''I'm the best guitarist in the world except for this gypsy who lives in France. '' Woody Allen movie.
I totally love that you review any guitar player from any genre or any era. I had never heard of this guitar player before. Thanks. Rock!
I’ve been a Django fan for years. Never could figure out how the hell he did that stuff with limited digits, but so glad he did. Thanks, Fil, for bringing this one to us. It’s absolutely awesome that at your young age you have an appreciation of some of the old greats…thanks!
I've listened to Django for many hours in my life. I'm a classical pianist - what I am amazed by the most is his musicality. For example his tone is just heart-melting. My favourite piece by him is "Manoir de mes reves" where in the middle he plays the solo - and immediately the last note of the first phrase, the tender gentle vibrato, the wonderful sonority and projection...
Ehh, what I mean is I could possibly fall in love with his music based on just one single note without any context, just the quality of the sound. And then there's the genius and the wonderful music.
Yes this Song is wonderful!
There are so many top guitarists out there, mostly playing fast and impressive. But there are so few who focus on the melody and the harmony!
Fast playing is a nice thing, but its senseless without melody and harmony.
Django was a true and heart touching master, i love his music!
You are spot on. Most modern Gypsy jazz guitarists concentrate on emulating Django,s blistering speed buts it's just monotonous and boring withought phrasing and timing and emotion Django knew instinctively when to hold back and keep you enthralled and when to let loose with a devastating run
Django Reinhardt, Father of the Guitar Solo. Thank You
No problem!
Several years ago I read a magazine interview where Jeff Beck said that he rated Django as being the greatest guitarist ever. He also said that he rated John McLaughlin as being the best living guitarist.
TheHumbuckerboy having seen McLaughlin live I’d agree with Beck’s opinion!
A friend of mine, a pianist by the name of Alan Clare, who passed away some time ago now, told me a story of a time just. after the war in the late 1940s when Django paid a visit to London and stayed at the flat of guitarist Dave Goldberg in Old Compton Street. Alan and Django were walking along the street around midnight and there was a bright full moon high in the sky. Django exclaimed (in French of course) "Goodness me, look at the moon, it's exactly the same as the one we have in France !" Incidentally when I started learning the guitar in 1956 at the age of eight, my teacher started me off listening to "Hot Club" recordings - I have never recovered since ! Thanks for posting this - it is delightful !
I have read a lot about Django and he could be very naive and childlike he was very contradictory and it's really hard to get a handle on his personality no two people describe him the same. One says he was kind the other says he was greedy one says he was arrogant the other says he was humble he was full of contradictions. But what I can say with certainty is he was the best guitar player I have ever heard by a long way. He had it all
Django was and is an inspiration for all who love guitar playing,in any genre.A true genious that created a singular jazz style which i love and with a bunch of "sons".
Amen.
Check out his later recordings 1946 -53 he is absolutely fab; his note choice through really complex chord progressions and the speed and accuracy of his picking would embarrass many modern shredders or jazzers -I really do think he is king of the guitar he pioneered it as a soloists instrument for modern music.
He not only play fast (that lick at 3:34 omg) he play fast, but most important, in a beautiful and melodic way. Such an amazing guitarist. I recommend listen "I´ll see you in my dreams". Please sorry for my english, Im from Argentina
No problem!
Few musicians, especially guitarists, cannot be fascinated or enthusiastic about Django's music. He is an absolute exceptional talent. His musicality is unique and has influenced countless musicians. I was very lucky to be able to experience Stéphane Grapelli live and visit him backstage. He was so sympathetic and charming.
Django was one of my heros. Such a tough life that most would have given up... he persevered. He played with many of the best of Europe.
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He actually played with some of the best in the world as well, Coleman Hawkins, Duke Ellington, Benny Carter to name a few. Not many European jazz players can say the same during that era, if any. They say that when Hawkins came to Europe he would jam with Django on a single tune for over 40 minutes for practice
@@01warmus Thanks for the additional information. Apparently a lot of people have anecdotes to share on this. He was truly a great guitarist of his time as well as our time.
I've been a player of this style for over 17 years playing professionally. Django 's genius is his style besides being an astounding technical player. When you transcribe his solos and learn how to play it with two fingers it becomes a lot more intuitive and actually easier versus 4 fingers. Before his accident, Django was playing as a pro in Parisian musette dance halls from age 9 and actually started on violin. He was a prodigy/genius and literally a walking tape recorder. They use to play a musical game in the Gypsy camps where players would play 8 bars or so of a unique melody one after another and you had to copy the melodies. The story goes that Django was able to replicate 16 melodies in a row flawlessly after hearing it once. It's clear that he also developed his sound by his musical God, Louis Armstrong. You can actually hear it in his phrasing in Saint Louis Blues and earlier 1920's recordings before he evolved into bebop. The 1st time he heard Louis Armstrong was on a wax drum recording, he apparently froze in the middle of the room and swore in Romany and said "...my brother, my brother..." repeatedly. One more story: Django could not read or write, it's funny when looking at pictures of him pretend reading or writing which he staged to make him appear more intellectual/educated. When he arrived in the US on Duke Ellington's invitation, when Duke inquired what key he preferred Django had no concept what he was talking about and said that he was happy with his hotel keys. lol
Haha cool! 😂
And Phil gives us Django too. Respect again to sir. Thank you!
Thanks for doing the incomparable Django Reinhardt; what a great soulful guitarist . Even though there are hundreds of songs he recorded, there is very little film of him.
No problem!
There was a film of minor swing at Hammersmith Palaus on TH-cam but it got taken down in 2002 and must be in a vault somewhere. His fingers follow the recorded solo exactly so it may have been a case of expert lip sync. Sync sound was very complicated for hi fi in 1937-38.
Thanks so much for covering Django, I wasn't expecting this! I had the good fortune to see Stephan Grappelli in the late 70's at a smallish club. Didn't really know what to expect, just knew that it was jazz violin, and we were blown away! Martin Taylor was on guitar, and that was the first time I saw someone play super fast runs on acoustic guitar. Wow! Saw Martin again years later with David Grisman, had a chance to chat with him about seeing him with Stephan, he was very friendly.
Cool!
I saw that line-up too, in NYC, maybe 1981?
Oh wow! This takes me back to my childhood. I had an uncle who was an astoundingly good guitarist (he could play anything but guitar was his favorite) and his hero was Django. He played his records over and over. My uncle would be a little over 100 if he were alive today He would have loved seeing your analysis!
Willie Nelson's favorite and the inspiration for his picking style on Trigger..greay stuff
Willie is where I heard of him.
Legend 🎶
Willie Nelson went to Leon Russell for guitar lessons. Leon started by having Willie listen to Django recordings.
Fabulous Fil! Thank you for presenting Django. My understanding is that he had burns on quite a bit of his body which led to having to use a cane. Both physical and political stress...to still be creative. He kept going even though he could have been thrown in a concentration camp for being a gypsy or a jazz artist. What a great man and of course the power of music! Thanx!
I have my old Dad to thank for introducing me to these guys and have loved their music ever since I was a nipper...
And mic drop moment please! My jaw dropped listening to this! Thanks for sharing!
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The DJANGO story should be required learning for everyone. Even people who don’t listen to music or play guitar. The world would be a better place. Bravo Fil.
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For me, this is the most important clip ever saved and memorialized on TH-cam. There is next to nothing existing of Django on video. This is it, basically. How valuable would be found film of Django?!
I've watched this about 1000 times and am always awestruck. These guys were comparable to the Beatles in quality and quantity of genius recordings. Grapelli and Reinhart = Lennon and McCartney
Django was a huge influence on guitarists like Les Paul, Jeff Beck, Jerry Garcia and so many great players. He is still inspiring guitarists today along with those over the past six decades. He's one of the few guitarists who have written their own musical canon for that instrument changing it forever.
Amen.
I have several dozen of my great gramma Burke's 78's.
Among them are several of Django playing with the Quintet of the Hot Club of France.
I'm always impressed with that fast chromatic scale, given everything is played with only two fingers.
Outstanding performance, wonderful music.
What a great story having to deal with not only his environment but also his physical limitations, amazing player! I'm sure that this man has been an inspiration to many through the years, being a non-player myself it was a true pleasure!Good one Fil ♡
Fil, I mentioned this guitar player on another of your (more recent) videos, and you replied that you had done him. It took me a minute to find it, but yes, you did feature him...here. Thank you. This jazz notable should be more heralded than what he has been. Thanks that a young man such as you do some of these older players right, by helping to keep their memories alive and on everyone's radar. I love so many of your videos on here.
100 years old yet still relevant in the sense that its musicality transcends time and still inspires and entertains
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As amazing as Django Reinhardt was, I think you may have focused a little too much on the "overcoming adversity" aspect of his story. What struck me in his solo was its melodicsm, swing, and surprise; it did not go where I expected.
Yeah it's just my worst nightmare to think of losing fingers so Django is the man!
Good point. In fact ... NOT to say that losing two fingers is a good thing ... but if I try as an experiment to play with ONLY my first two fingers ... I get a little glimpse of a different approach to the guitar. My musical brain starts really thinking about melody instead of scale shapes and standard guitar stuff. Django could probably blow us away with one finger.
yes indeed, hallmarks of django's playing are his sense of swing and melody, he created some really beautiful songs like "Nuages" (clouds)
@@InXLsisDeo blues en minor, ..tears.....etc :-) his timing when to play and what to play (phrasing), is 1 in a 100 million.
No guitarist has got anywhere near django's inbuilt sense of timing or phrasing
My parents instilled a love of all music in my brothers and me. We listened to everything and loved it all. My parents used to go downtown to East St. Louis and dance to the Ike and Tina Turner Review but they loved Classical too... Fil I truly appreciate that you feature artists from ever genre of music and especially that you can always find the beauty and proficiency in what they are preforming.
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Thanks for showcasing this pioneer, you are a credit to the art of music
No problem! ☺
I get tears when I watch Django. Seriously...think of how much heart he had to go on after losing half of his tools.
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An authentic genius of music, a pure creator. The word "Disabled" should disappear from the dictionary.
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It could be "dif-abled". Just different!
Sorry, but that's a ridiculous thing to say.
Fantastic melodies from Django. Thanks for doing this.
In the early eighties I only used to watch live bands and I'd often strike up a conversation with guitarists because i loved Rock music and I was search for that thing that made the music give me goosebumps. Django was always mentioned as an inspiration. I eventually found that "thang" the more I played guitar. It was the "blues note".
I'm very glad you did this analysis of Django Reinhardt. I've known of him when I was young, but only had a chance to hear him recently
Enjoyed your video. John McLaughlin is probably one of the most technically proficient acoustic guitarists ever. He recently said that he still can’t play some of the things Django played.
I suppose that would work both ways 😀
You can hear Django’s influence on JM and many other great players. Toni Iommi was inspired by his perseverance through disablement.
Personally I just want to pick up my guitar every time I hear him or any other guitarists who plays in “gypsy” style. There is something really free immediate and energising in that style.
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Django Reinhardt is the greatest guitarist that ever lived for a number of reasons. This isn't even django playing anywhere near his best but it's still good. Djangos style is a mixture of late 18th century jazz which was played on a banjo hence why gypsy guitars have that banjo sound which is infused with the warmth of the American jazz players of the time and he was inspired by both interpretations of jazz. Not only was he inspired by that, his music is also infused with classical. Debussy was a huge influence on him snd they were alive in the same period and the way he seen it Debussy was the only musician alive who understood what django was trying to achieve musically. Also hugely inspired by Francisco tarrega especially capricho arabe where django plays identical passages in his piece " improvisation no
1" which is extremely difficult to play. Some examplss of his virtuosity can be heard in manoir de mes reves which has one of the greatest guitar solos ever played, embraceable you,diminishing, I'll see you in my dreams, improvisation no 2(which is essentially a classical piece) old man river, lover man, honeysuckle rose( the live version with Bill Bethel on drums) and loads more. Django could play runs that no one alive at the time
Could play and people would still struggle with he was extremely fast with his left and right hand if you haven't checked out any of
The above recordings do because this is one of the greatest musicians that ever lived.
Essentially he makes anyone look pretty bad with just two fingers.
Les Paul couldn't hold a candle to him and idolised him.
Yeah this isn't his best playing but unfortunately live footage from that time is very rare and we are lucky to have the little that's available and that he played jazz, a genre that was respected enough to consider filming at that time. Blues wasn't considered worth the effort so little of it was even recorded much less filmed.
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No Name When I want to see some of Djandos like guitar playing but want someone else I watch Rosenberg Trio.
Munglatley O'Donnel yes
It's amazing that despite his disability, he could play songs like Mystery Pacific so fast that the rest of the band struggled to keep up. Django and Stefan were also a really unlikely pairing, with Stefan being very disciplined and Django having a much more casual approach to all things and such different backgrounds in life. I guess it's evidence of how music can unify and bring people together.
Great appraisal as usual Fil. Your representation of ALL fields n times of music makes your message all the more meaningfull. Keep up the great work.
nuages from hot club de paris 1949 I think. mind blowingly beautiful playing. My favourite by django and stephan
Fil, this was fantastic!
So happy you didn't just evaluate Django's incredible talent, but touched on his backstory as well.
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Thanx Fil for appreciating the truly amazing Django.
I am never disappointed when I choose one of your videos to watch. You do such a great job, Fil.
Thanks!
Inspirational!! Django Reinhardt was the only artist from my dad's music that I could stand when I was young (back in the 60's). Dad had an album of Reinhardt, Grappelli, and the Hot 5 -- and we, as kids, played it over and over again. It competed for playtime with The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich. It was the only one of dad's album's that was allowed anywhere near the record player when dad wasn't around. I had no idea about his disability, or suppression by the Nazis, until your clip. I was just entranced by his upbeat virtuoso style. Thank you, yet again, for another brilliant clip.
No problem!
Just beautiful... one of the most inspirational and influential early players! Love to see more jazz players... bluegrass & metal too! 🤘
Wow you went full Django!!! I wasn’t expecting that, great job!!
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Fil, you have become also a teacher in musical history, besides your musical analysis. That why your videos are so much worth looking at!
Haha thanks!
The best there ever was , phrasing , timing .............cleverness in the solos.......its all amazing.............his personality rings through on everything
AmAZING
Amen!
Really thanks for this one Fil..been a huge fan of his for years..
No problem ☺
There's literally no lead player on earth who has not been heavily influenced by Django and Charlie Christian. Not one
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Charley Christian is from my home state , Oklahoma.
The best part is they may not even know who they are and yet are still influenced by them.
Lots of rock players actually
Right on Fil! I know this will get a lot of people inspired to keep going.
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I saw this clip a few years back, but now excited to hear your review! Inspiration! Love the backstories!
Thanks for reviewing this video, I've watched it numerous times and I'm amazed that Django Reinhardt, I have to vinyl albums of him and stephane Grappelli, they are hardly ever off the autochanger :)
You continue to show us fans of music and talent (aka people who play an instrument but are not musicians) insights, history and technical information that bring us back every time - regardless of who you are reviewing. I'm a 60 y.o. American that really enjoys hearing talent from abroad. One group I'd love to hear your view of is Katzenjammer. All female band - all play multiple instruments and appear to be dedicated musicians/performers (I saw a vid where the lead vocalist was performing at what appears to be 9 months pregnant. Impressive.) They also seem to have a fan base that is riveted to them on stage. Rock, jazz, Dixieland jazz, polka - and impressive harmonies. Based on what I've learned from you, and occasionally via my own ear, they seem to have an occasional technical flaw, but lots of fun to watch and listen to. Thank you for what you do.
No problem!
That one lick just blew me away! He does it better than I can, and I have all my fingers! On an acoustic guitar too! Wow! What a talented guy!👍😎🎸🎶
Thank you! I had always heard about Django Reinhardt but never heart him. He is amazing and the tone is so clear!
Spectacular video. My favorite of yours so far. I really enjoyed the history and the stories at the end. You should add those stories more often! Great video!
Thanks!
The same rock and roller guitar teacher of mine that turned me onto Glen Campbell also told me about Django but, at that time you couldn't go to youtube and see him play. When I finally saw him play I didn't play for a week. Now we have Willie for a little while longer.
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What a wonderful review to watch and listen to. Your historical comments at the end were both fascinating and inspiring. Thanks for posting this one!
No problem!
Ah found it. I went to the Django festival just outside Paris once and it was amazing. People and artists come from all over the world to play at it. Whenever I hear Django I think of the movie sweet and lowdown, a mockumentary about the second best gipsy jazz guitarist played by Sean Penn.
Regardless of the song, these old recordings never cease to amaze me. From the depths of sadness and dispair to extreme joys, any song he played is instantly identifiable.
BTW, there's a company that still makes these old Selmer designed guitars. Buying a Selmer 503, however, doesn't guarantee that you'll play this well... You will get credit for having one of the coolest guitars around though! LOL!
Hi guys, just to let you know after I read a comment I 'like' and 'love' it to indicate I've read it! I respond to as many as I can, and write down every request. ROCK! \m/
Amazing how the internet is bringing to life with such clarity, thanks to the accessibility of these videos, amazing players like Django. When I first started playing guitar I'd heard his name come up in typical lists of "greatest guitarists ever" and that sort of thing. But it wasnt till about a year or 2 ago that I actually saw that 1939 J'attendrai video for the first time, and like you I was absolutely blown away. Before I saw that video I mostly just played rock and heavy metal guitar, but since then I've been playing almost exclusively jazz. Seriously, that Django clip was life changing for me.
DJANGO REINHARDT!!!!!! ONE OF MY FAVORITE DAMN GUITARISTS OF ALL TIME!
Inspirational! A testament of what you can achieve with practice, love of the instrument and most importantly heart!!!!!! Now that's what I call a conqueror ! Many would find hard to play that piece with all their fingers working let alone two!!! Success in all its forms is a state of mind!!!! Just so amazing to listen to!!!! Thanks Fil !!!!!👌👌👌👌👌👌👌
If you notice the positioning of the band is key. Bass lifted and toward the back so it can push the bottom. His brothers on each side with slight distance variation; playing different chord voicing, giving a wide stereophonic mid-range quality. Django out front so the melodies can ride the waves. And the violin soars above.These guys knew how to move air. Great vids, Man!
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Great analysis. Thank you. Django is a legend and inspiration for any musician.
Thank you Phil. This performance ftom the hot club and your comments are uplifting.
I love this clip! Django was determined and inventive! Hero material just for those qualities! Love the sound with the string bends!
Thanks, Fil, for bringing Django into the 21st century (right now, we are not too far from 2020). To be honest, I had never heard of him. I am so impressed with his technical wizardry. And the struggles he overcame is a great inspiration to me & I am sure to many others.
I am hearing Bob Wills !...Brother man I do appreciate the time and effort you put in , ty4sharon !
No problem!
Love him or hate him, there wouldn't be any Woody Allen movies without this sort of jazzy guitar sound. Love the Django sound.
That was unexpected, but it shows that you know the history of your instrument. Thanks for thinking out of the box. U got to love Django, he's the the final boss of gypsy jazz.
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I have heard of this genius all my life as a huge Tony Iommi fan, but this is my first time seeing and hearing him for myself. Thank you for the introduction ! I loved your Samantha Fish video, big pleasant surprise for me!
This is my favourite one I’ve seen thanks Fil
Amazing, thanks for posting!
Great pic Fil, this guy influenced countless guitarists, particularly back in the 60's I believe; a lot of the shred playing evolved from him. He paid his dues that's for sure, quite a history he had growing up and developing. Lots of lessons to be learned from him.
Django and Charlie Christian were both prologue to what became jazz guitar. CC in America with his swing/blues (overdriven) electric and DJ in Europe with his unique chromatism played on an odd-looking acoustic. Gypsy and other regional folk music inspired many of the "Masters" of Baroque, Classical, and Romantic music. Django is part of this tradition.
You forgot to mention Charlie was THE pioneer of electric guitar
Django was unchained! What an incredible player.
I see what you did there Quint
I saw on the LS chat last night that you had done an analysis of Django Reinhardt and I had to check it out. I discovered Django thanks to a movie called Sweet & Lowdown made back in the 90's. His music is transporting - it takes my imagination to that time. I don't think I ever knew about his finger damage. That he was able to adapt is a triumph of the human spirit. 🖤🤘
My earliest childhood memories are of my fathers Django Reinhardt EPs which we would play on a gramophone. If you go to some bars in Paris you wills see and hear many Gypsy Jazz musicians continuing Django's tradition.
Cool!
Listen to Django then listen to Willie Nelson's style. Django is Willie's main inspiration when it comes to soloing. Best showcases are the albums "Spirit" (1996) and "Teatro" (1998).
Fil, the easiest way to describe the timing of his beautiful run is to get your viewers to just watch the expression on your face.. BTW if you can find it there was a film on Julian Bream where he is actually at a party and starts playing Django style.. This man was a major influence on so many guitarists and musicians. Cheers
Great feature and analysis, Fil.
I'm pretty sure I've heard somewhere that Tony Iommi knew of the difficulties that Django coped with, and was inspired by that to keep playing after his own accident, although he had much less of an impediment, and better means of overcoming it (his original prosthetic finger extensions were from a melted washing up liquid bottle, and moulded to his fingers himself). The rest, as they say, is history!
And many other musicians have fought against seemingly insurmountable odds to achieve their success - the first person ever to achieve a career as a full time touring feature virtuoso percussionist was Dame Evelyn Glennie CH - profoundly deaf by the age of 11due to a condition which caused her hearing to deteriorate from age 2. In addition to hundreds of percussive instruments, she also plays Clarinet, harmonica and Highland bagpipes.
You knew I'd particularly enjoy hearing Stephane Grappelli as well, didn't you? :-)
Yeah that's true, and Jerry Garcia 👍
A fascinating and cool insight into a pioneer of music. Despite the adversities he faced. A genuine legend. Top work, Fil. Thanks for sharing. 👍😎
FIL, THANKS FOR COVERING THIS FORGOTTEN ARTIST IN TODAYS WORLD. THIS MAN WAS A GENIOUS, DUE TO HIS PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENTS, JUST SPECTACULAR, I STARTED TO PLAY NYLON STRING GUITARS BECAUSE OF HIM. IT IS THAT SPECIAL SOUND IT HAS, ALSO YOU KNOW THAT HE IS WILLIE NELSONS HERO, EVERY NIGHT THAT WILLIE PLAYS YOU CAN HEAR DJANGO, COUSIN FIGEL
I love Django’s playing... for someone who couldn’t read music, his timing & phrasing was incredible, not to mention his undeniable talent...I’v listen to Django for many years... even tho I play thrash metal, I have an ear for music...& people like Django & Doc Watson playing guitar through adversity...touches my black heart.
I try my best to improvise some of the gypsy jazz that Django & Grapelli played.
I can’t touch him... if ye know what I mean Fil😉
When there's a will there's a way...and this amazing man proves that. Thank you for showing this, it's an incredible story. It's the outsiders that make the biggest & most lasting changes!