While Django Reinhart's earlier sides have been deservedly issued time and again, his later recordings have been given somewhat short shrift in the reissue sweepstakes. These recordings from 1947, 1951, 1952, and 1953 are his last, from sessions held in Brussels and Paris, the final one held only a month before his untimely death at age 43. Though he is billed with the 'Hot Club of France Quintet' on these sides, the players are not from that legendary outfit, but rather top-notch French musicians whom Reinhardt enjoyed ...
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While Django Reinhart's earlier sides have been deservedly issued time and again, his later recordings have been given somewhat short shrift in the reissue sweepstakes. These recordings from 1947, 1951, 1952, and 1953 are his last, from sessions held in Brussels and Paris, the final one held only a month before his untimely death at age 43. Though he is billed with the 'Hot Club of France Quintet' on these sides, the players are not from that legendary outfit, but rather top-notch French musicians whom Reinhardt enjoyed working with. Of particular interest is the preponderance of original Django material filling up this compilation, particularly two takes of "Duke and Dukie" and "Babik," a bebop instrumental named after his son, who later followed in his father's footsteps, becoming a notable jazz player on his own. His solo work throughout, played on a heavily amplified-sometimes distorted-electric guitar, is as fine as always, and if Django's lone trip to the United States in 1946 changed his playing style, his ideas and technique remained as influential as ever, right until the end. The sound of these sides isn't the greatest, but the music definitely is. Not the place to start with this prolific and sometimes volatile artist, but certainly more than a mere afterthought to a trail-blazing career. ~ Cub Koda, Rovi
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Add this copy of Brussels and Paris to cart. $7.00, like new condition, Sold by Archer's Used & Rare Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Kent, OH, UNITED STATES, published 1996 by DRG.
