November 15. 2016
Django Reinhardt & Stephane Grappelli
Stephan Grappelli and Django Reinhardt met at the Croix du Sud Montparnasse nightclub in early 1934.
They organized new band with the addition of two rhythm guitars and a double bass.
The member included Reinhardt’s brother Joseph, guitarist Roger Chaput and double bassist Louis Vola.
Left to right: Roger Chaput, Stéphane Grappelli, Louis Vola, Joseph Reinhardt and Django Reinhardt.
Their first engagement was organized by the Hot Club de France.
They became known as “the Quintette du Hot Club de France. ”
The band was one of the earliest and most influential jazz groups in Europe.
They toured Europe with a style of music dubbed “Gypsy Jazz.”
Grappelli said about the Quintette du Hot Club de France:
“One day he was strumming on his guitar, and Istarted to improvise with him.”
Also he said: “There were no microphones then, so it was hard for a violin to be heard.
It was a revolution to play jazz only with string instruments.”
I found a terrific article about the Quintette du Hot Club.Go here
Here is the rare clip of Django Reinhardt & Stephane Grappelli(1939) .
Here is Django Reinhardt & Stéphane Grappelli play “Minor Swing”.
Here is The Quintette du Hot Club de France play “The Sheik of Araby”.(1937)
