Barney Kessel owned one of Django’s Selmer guitars, and he said it was difficult to play chords on and didn’t stay in tune very well. There are definitely some inherent tuning issues with that style of guitar. Sometimes, if you play an octave on the B and the D strings in the middle of the neck, the D string is flat and the B string is sharp.  Django definitely developed a style to suit that instrument, although he played other guitars before the Selmer. The Selmer came out in 1932, I think, and he didn’t get his first one until 1934. So his style was already intact at that time. There are stories about when he came to America without a guitar, because he figured the Americans would be lining up to give him guitars to play. Well, they didn’t, so his tour manager bought him a non-cutaway Gibson with a P-90, and he was really bummed out. He wrote back to his manager: “Don’t speak to me about American tin-pot guitars anymore!”

About Django

Photos of Samois Festival 2006 with Hank Marvin
reflecting his interest in the background of picture 3
donated by Stu Weetman, Guitarist
Django Samois Festival
26-29 June 08

Swing41 - Salbris - France
6-8 June 08

Gypsy Jazz Guitar Resource

Tony Oreshko

Moreno

Matcho Winterstein

Rythme Futur

http://www.lespommesdemadouche.com/accueil1_english.html

Django's Playing
Some writers have argued that Django's physical handicap actually made him a better guitarist than had he the use of all four fingers on his fretting hand. Unable to play the linear, scale-driven lines that fall all too easily under the fingers of most guitarists, Django's limited mobility forced him to view the fingerboard more vertically than horizontally. Blessed with exceptionally large hands and long fingers (one famous photo shows him fretting the high E through A strings of his guitar at the 14th fret with his middle finger from the second knuckle down), he had the strength and stretch to make wide intervals with just his first two fingers. He invented the use of octave runs as a soloing device on guitar, another example of taking his two-fingered limitation and making it a musical asset. Moving beyond that, he frequently used double stop runs in colorful intervals to generate tonal tension and resolution in his solos. Django literally developed a new vocabulary for lead guitar, making wide interval jumps across the strings as often as he moved up and down the strings individually. When he did remain on one string, it was typically for a blistering chromatic run that might start on the first fret and run all the way up to the 13th fret. Always aware of the slightest nuance of tone, Django honed each note perfectly, often incorporating a beautifully modulated finger vibrato or a skilfully executed blues bend or slur to add emotional strength to his playing. As the Django repertoire books written by guitarist Robin Nolan show clearly, most of Django's chord positions were simple three note chords, but his musical genius enabled him to create diminished, suspended and augmented chords that beautifully fit the melodies he played by adding open string notes as needed. Although a total illiterate musically who couldn't name any chords, he always knew what chord formation he needed to create the musical effect he desired, either a sweet, lush chord or a jarring, angular punctuation chord, to set the mood.

A tireless worker, he endlessly developed a trailblazing right hand technique, as well. Django was the first to frequently utilize what is now called sweep picking, where a run is played with the pick pushing through three or more strings sequentially with either a down or upstroke. His tremolo rivalled that of the great Italian mandolin virtuosi, a skill that he utilized on full chords and well as individual notes to great effect. Django preferred the thickest, stiffest picks he could find, generally using natural tortoise shell. But he never let his equipment dominate his creative skills. Delauney's book, for instance, cites one example where he showed up for a gig without a pick and proceeded to break off the tooth of a comb and used that as a substitute plectrum for the night!

Jo Privat and Gus Viseur -  Accordionists accompanied Django Reinhardt.

International Gypsy Jazz Festival
28-30 July Gossington, Glouc.
 

L' Esprit Manouche

Manouche Guitars

Hot Club

Gypsy Jazz Guitar
 

Peter 'Tiger' Sheppard

Nuages

Charles Alexander - Andy Robinson Duo

Manouche
 

Petites Annonces.co.uk/

Django Jazz Festival - Iceland
19-22 July

Les Enfants de Django

Paul Vernon Chester holds regular  Tuition schools in Wallsall in the West Midlands and it is a great opportunity to receive first class instruction from this world respected guitarist and and opportunity download in from him a deal of his personal reflections and anecdotes regarding the music he loves and promotes.  His dexterity, musicianship, intricate skills, historical interest and enthusiasm for the subject are a joy to absorb.  If you are a serious student you could have no finer teacher than Maestro Paul Vernon Chester (the Walsall Wizard) in the demanding and delicate delights of Manouche Swing Jazz.
Next Scheduled Workshop is -

Contact 01922 612 456 or click Paul Vernon Chester to address him by email.

Trish Elphinstone on Gypsy Jazz

Trish Elphinstone has been playing the saxophone for about fourteen years now. She started playing the sax because she liked the sound and it was a useful way to relieve examination stress! She joined the Oxford Polytechnic (now Brookes University) big band, mostly played "air sax", and became the band driver as a means to avoid being kicked out.  After being a hard rockin' chick for a while, she went on to play in an African King Crimson/Gong 'experimental' jazz-flavoured hip-hop band. Being in these bands gave room for improvisation and she wanted to know more.  She attended a beginners' jazz course at Ruskin College, Oxford. At the end, she and some colleagues from the course formed a small jazz band and ended up gigging. She found out about summer jazz workshops, including the Jamie Abersold and Glamorgan courses. Dissatisfied with waiting for the summer, she enrolled and completed the City Lit course, and unexpectedly is now happily doing a jazz degree at Middlesex. Catch her at the Half Moon Pub Oxford and visit her Django's Music Analysis Site.

Gary's musical experience is extensive and covers jazz, country, classical, pop, funk and blues. He has recently embarked on arranging and composing, and is an accomplished teacher of music, giving workshops worldwide. Gary is critically acclaimed as the most talented guitarist to emerge from the British Isles in recent years. He is regarded by aficionados as one of the greatest jazz and country guitarists in the world, enjoying high acclaim in the United States, Australia and Europe. Gary's path towards jazz started when introduced to the music of Django at the age of 15 and has continued via many festivals worldwide

Garry Potter  Garry Potter Trio 

Gary's Trio with Dave Kelbie - Sweet Georgia Brown - Live

Ade (Jazz) Holland
 

Lollo Meier
Among the gypsy jazz musicians that play guitar in the style of Django Reinhardt there are few that really stand out like Lollo Meier.  His music is refreshing, combining an accomplished technique and unique style of playing with a real flair for composing.  Raised on gypsy jazz, Meier, a Dutch gypsy, started playing guitar at the age of 12 with members of his family.  After playing in the Belgian band “Swing 42” Meier started Lollo Meier Szigano Swing, a new quartet that gave him the opportunity to express his own style and ideas.
For this tour Meier is joined by the celebrated young clarinetist from Antwerp, Andre Donnie, and Europe’s pre-eminent rhythm guitarist and bassist in the style, Dave Kelbie and Andy Crowdy, both members of John Etheridge’s “Sweet Chorus” and The Angelo Debarre Quartet.“...Meier was caressed the strings at the fiercest - Brilliancies came and went so fast that there was hardly time to applaud until the end...”
London Evening Standard
 

Fapy Lafertin
Fapy with Tchavalo Schmitt

Ritary Garuenetti

Andreas Oberg

Robin Nolan

Duane Andrews

Ian Date

Gypsy Jazz Wales Swansea-based group playing a mixture of the French café-style music made famous by Django Reinhardt and his Hot Club de France, along with a huge repertoire of latin, bossa-nova, and swing jazz tunes.  Gypsy Jazz have been playing together as a group for over 18 years and have a wealth of experience
Videos

Dave Blenkhorn
Originally from Sydney ( Australia ) he was a part of a vibrant scene for 10 years where he performed with jazz icons Graham Belle, Bob Barnard, Tom Baker and James Morrison.Since moving to the UK he has performed with Enrico Tomasso, Martin Taylor, Nina Ferro, Campbell Burnap and Dave Kelbie. He has been a regular on the European festival circuit and has enjoyed performances in France, Switzerland, Italy and Holland alongside US artists Harry Allen, Lilian Boutte, Evan Christopher, Leroy Jones and Eddie Locke.  Jazz traditions project led by New Orleans clarinetist Evan Christopher is joined by David and a top french rhythm section of Guillame Nouaux (drums) and Sebastien Girardot (bass).
During a week long residency at the prestigious 'Lionel Hampton' jazz club in Paris the band recorded a live CD. It is to be released in March 2007 at the Classic Jazz party in Paris (see classicjazz.org for more details). This recording explores music as diverse as Jellyroll Morton, Django Reinhardt and Ornette Coleman drawing inspiration from earlier jazz traditions and reinterpreting them with innovative arrangements and contemporary sensibility.

Another international collaboration, this time with dutch pianist Harry Kanters, resulted in a tribute concert and CD to the Nat King Cole trio.This features David's fine vocal talents and some light hearted band vocals true to the spirit of the original trio.In addition each player contributed one of their favourite tunes, David's being the classic Charlie Christian number ' solo flight'.  This summer he was invited as featured artist at the "Busto Arsizio guitar festival" in Milan with one of Italy's premiere jazz guitarists Alessio Menconi. Taking standards from the American songbook, Brazil, and Django Reinhardt they played in wonderful theatre almost completely acoustic. Blenkhorn being steeped in the earlier tradition complemented Menconi's be-bop and more modern lines in a wonderful interplay of contrasting styles with some imaginative arrangements well thought out repertoire.  David Blenkhorn is known for his strong ,warm tone and vibrant playing.  His personal style is influenced by the jazz greats Django Reinhardt, Charlie Christian and Wes Montgomery.

Tolga Quartet is a collaboration between four young musicians from all over Europe. They play the Django Reinhardt style, or Gypsy Jazz, with a fresh and contemporary approach.  The band was founded originally as the Tolga Emilio Trio by Tolga During in Amsterdam in 1998. One year later, they recorded their first album which was internationally much applauded. As a result they received invitations from national and international festivals. Ever since, they have recorded five more albums and a live dvd. They now perform as a Quartet and the band members now all live in Italy but continue to perform all over the world.  'Fascinating repertoire, catchy arrangements, virtuose and swinging improvisations and an incredible mastery.' Akustik Gitarre, Germany  'Tolga is a musician who combines a unique and arresting style with a masterful technique. His music is striking yet remains pure and uncluttered.'  Turkish Daily News "Melding influences from Britain to the Bosphoros and beyond, this young four man Hot Club give a fresh twist to the gypsy jazz repertoire." - DJ Andy Roberts, BBC Jazz Connection Radio Show, UK

Gypsy Swing
Le QuecumBarAmerican Jazz captured the imagination of the Europe, particularly France, during the early part of the 20th century. Many famous American Jazz musicians found enthusiastic audiences in Europe while many European musicians incorporated the new sounds of Jazz into their usic. Gypsy Swing, sometimes called String Swing, is Swing played with a rhythm section of guitars and bass, rather than the traditional drums and bass of American Jazz. The best known of Gypsy Swing players was Django Reinhardt (1910-1953). Django Reinhardt, a anouche Gypsy, was a prolific composer and a phenomenal guitarist. His compositions make up the bulk of standards in the Gypsy Swing genre today and his unorthodox technique (due to the fact that he lost the use of two fingers of his left hand in a fire) has defined the sound of Gypsy Jazz. uages, Djangology, Douce Ambiance and Swing 42 are some of the Reinhardt standards that you will find in the typical Gypsy Jazz repertoire. There are many groups playing this music worldwide and Gypsy Jazz has continued to grow and change through the influences of musicians, both Gypsy and non-Gypsy, worldwide.

LOLLO MEIER and his quartet
Within European Gypsy circles, Lollo Meier is now widely recognised as the most lyrical acoustic Gypsy guitarist of his generation. His compositions are extraordinary, his technique light and airy and full of beautiful phrasing. He performs with an endeering shy confidence which is exactly how he leads his life. He's amazing on stage, engaging, honest, romantic, and audiences throughout Europe love him as much as they love his cousin Fapy Lafertin. His new CD "Rosas" is a perfect example of his work and is by far the best 'Gypsy guitar' CD I've heard for a VERY long time.
features Tcha Limberger (Belgium) violin, Dave Kelbie (UK) guitar & Andy Crowdy (UK) doublebass
I Love You / Step Swing (LM) / Blue Skies / Rosas (LM) / Crazy Rhythm / I surrender Dear / Lady be good / I'm getting Sentimental over you & Vous et Moi / Brazil / Valse a Lollo (LM) / Some of these days / La Route de Paris (LM) / What is this thing called Love / Dinette / Pepe's Dream (LM)

London Evening Standard
13.12.2004 - Brilliancy Unamplified
European stars beating a path to le Quecumbar's door include Dutch virtuoso Lollo Meier and his Belgian colleague, the blind violinist-guitarist Tcha Limberger. Backed by two British experts, Jonny Gee (double bass) and Dave Kelbie (rhythm guitar), they made some wonderful music last night.
Dutch players are reputedly more subtle than their French and German counterparts, and sure enough Meier was caressing the strings at the fiercest tempos. Limberger varied his attack, sometimes making the violin speak in a tender, breathy tone. Having warmed up with some Reinhardt favourites, Limberger began switching between violin and guitar, and then singing.
Brilliancies came and went so fast that there was hardly time to applaud until the end. Nobody had used amplification or even a microphone, Limberger simply rising from his chair between numbers to deliver his announcements. JACK MASSARIK

Swing 39 is a gypsy jazz quartet from Hampshire, UK.

Gary Leport Lead Guitar has played the guitar from the age of 15. Gary remains enthusiastically committed to the music of Django and the Hot Club of France.

Simon Newton Rhythm Guitar - After hearing Django Reinhardt on an old LP, Simon became interested in jazz guitar. He attended the Keech School of Music in Hull where he was mentored by revered jazz guitarists John Ethridge and Adrian Ingram. Soon after, Simon discovered Southampton Jazz Guitar Society in his hometown, Romsey, and has participated in concerts, taught and organised jazz workshops.

Gillian Tolliday Violin - Violin teacher by day, jazzer by night Gillian graduated in music at Southampton University and obtained violin diplomas at Trinity College London. As a classical violinist she has led the Grainger String Quartet for the last six years. Her interest in playing without 'dots' began in the early 90s In the mid-90s the wild harmonies and cool charm of jazz drew her. The move to Django gypsy and swing jazz has come in the last two years after meeting the blindingly fast and intricate sounds of Gary Leport, the in-the-groove skills of Keith Kensley and the solid supportive playing of Ray Hincks.

Nick Dyer Double Bass Nick has played the double bass since the age of seven. He grew up playing for local orchestras ending up as principal bass in the Southampton Youth Orchestra. He took up jazz at university, playing for many bands including the Cambridge University Jazz Orchestra.

John McGann

Modjango are a father and son guitar duo from the Wirral, Merseyside in the UK, who specialise in playing Manouche (Gypsy Jazz) guitar.  Rated as one of the top-ten Gypsy Jazz acts in the world, Modjango continue to inspire musicians across the globe, bringing modern techniques and inspiration to what is probably the most emotional musical form in the world.  Consists of Paul and Roy Gregory who, individually and as a duo, are rated as, and have played with, some of the best musicians  and continue to improve the diversity, vibrancy and ingenuity of their sets, whether as a duo or as part of a larger outfit.  Based in the Wirral.

Barnaby Brown
His main style is Django's Gypsy Jazz and has a degree in Classical and Jazz guitar, With ten years of performing experience playing in folk and rock bands.  He currently features  in a number of Gypsy Jazz and Gypsy Rock bands including Chancery Blame, By Djingo and the Gadjo Club.  He teaches professionally for  pupils of all standards in a relaxed manner.  If your interested or want more information give him a call on 07894 200496 or e-mail at BarnabyJBrown(at)gmail(dot)com

Gypsy Fire

The Morrellos

Metro Swing

Djazz Celtica

Nils Solberg  Nils grew up in England and is now based in London and the South East.  By the age of ten he was teaching himself the guitar. After a flirtation with finger-style ragtime in the folk clubs of the late 60s and early 70s, his life was changed upon hearing Django Reinhardt, and thereafter he dedicated himself to pursuing the art of acoustic swing. Other influences followed: Eddie Lang, Oscar Aleman and George Van Eps, though he subsequently broadened his style to encompass gypsy jazz, traditional, swing and mainstream jazz.  He became a professional musician after leaving art school in 1974, despite having spent four years studying illustration at Twickenham College, West London.

Video Performances of Manouche Swing Jazz On The Internet
 Bobby Johnson Quartet
 

Christian Garrick  Angelo Debarre

Christian with Angelo Debarre Video


Florin Niculescu - VideoExcellent Video Performances including Didiere Lockwood, Angelo Debarre, and Christiane Escoude
Florin Niculescu is one of the finest violinists on the international jazz scene today. Through many musical collaborations this captivating musician has developed a distinct sound and language, building on a solid classical education and linking gypsy traditions to diverse forms of jazz. His impeccable technique and outstanding virtuosity – praised by fellow musicians and audiences alike – are not a means to an end but a way of expressing his artistic personality
Minor Swing with Laurent Korcia
.

Bireli Lagrene

Bireli Legrene - Video 1
Bireli Legrene - Video 2

Stochelo Rosenberg & Romane

Moreno - Live - The Man I Love

Mike Piggott
Jazz violinist Mike Piggott is “One of the best swing jazz Violin players active anywhere in the world” (Jazz Times USA) and is the first fiddle player at ‘Jazz @ the Grainstore’.

He is influenced by Stephan Grappelli, Joe Venuti, and Stuff Smith and has recorded and broadcast with a wide range of artists including Ralph McTell, Bert Jansch, Phil Collins, John Etheridge, Gary Potter, and Bucky Pizzarelli.

"...one of the best swing jazz fiddle players active anywhere" - Jazz Times USA
"...demonstrates his mastery of the jazz violin" - Jazz UK

Mike Piggott has been a stalwart member of the music scene for many years, having been involved not only in jazz but also in the folk and rock worlds, notably recording 6 albums with Ralph McTell, replacing John Renbourne in the re-formed Pentangle with which he recorded 2 albums, spending two years with The Denny Laine Band, and working with "Zox & The Radar Boys" an offshoot from Genesis). Mike is also a soloist in Keith Nichols' Ragtime Orchestra, which featured in the Bix Beiderbecke concert series at the Purcell Room and the Queen Elizabeth Hall, as well as being in constant demand in clubs, at festivals and on sessions.Above Mike plays the "Strohviol" - an early recording violin which has a gramophone-type horn built into it. Look out for his demo of Joe Venuti's '4-string bowing' technique.

 

Havana Swing
Django's Lion Runs Rampant
Scottish band Havana Swing have been delighting audiences for years with their fiery brand of Gypsy Jazz. Formed In 1986, the band comprises of 3 Guitarists, Clarinet and Double Bass and will take you on a musical journey of The Hot Club De France through Parisian cafes and Gypsy campfires! Lightning solos coupled with subtle harmonies will leave you in no doubt that this is the real thing and you will quickly notice from the band sound, the obvious musical enjoyment derived from playing in the style of Django Reinhardt.
Havana Swing are well respected  throughout the Jazz Manouche and Hot Club world of music mainly from their live performances and their CD recordings-“Django Ecossais” and
“Django’s Lion”  Dundee’s representatives on this front are the 5 members of Havana Swing and their new album does both themselves and Django proud. The bulk of the lead guitar work falls to Ashley Malcolm and John Whyte and both demonstrate not only the technical ability but also the feel for this type of playing. (It wasn’t only Django’s left hand that dazzled, his right was equally significant.)
The band’s clarinettist , Walter Smith, shows a lightness of tone reminiscent of the some of the famous hot club recordings, his playing on “Black and Blue” being particularly pleasing.  The other members of the band , Alain Le Grand , guitar and Calum McKenzie, bass contribute in laying down the swing that is so fundamental to this style of jazz and also take the vocals on “Sweet Sue” and “East of the Sun” , respectively. These days it is not enough for bands to simply recreate the music of days gone by. They should also include some of their own material and this album does indeed have 3 of Calum’s originals.
The masters of Gypsy Swing maintain the 'Auld Alliance'.
The group took the name Havana Swing from a Cigar preference - Gauloises are too weak for the Scots

Colin Cosimini has been playing Gypsy Jazz Guitar for over 20 years.

He is of Italian Gypsy descent, but born in the UK. He learnt his craft by touring the capitals of Europe playing with the Gypsy guitarists at their local haunts and studying their work to obtain that unique sound.
Hi Folks,  I have two tours in the UK this year with Manouche guitarists, first the end of June with Matcho Winterstein, and September with Moreno, I will get back to you with the exact dates!

Matcho Winterstein
Moreno

The Reinhardt Project is made up of brothers Lulo and Mike Reinhardt - great nephews of the famous Django Reinhardt - and cousin Sascha, along with Australian violinist Daniel Weltlinger. The outstanding guitar virtuosos is based in Kobllenz.

Taught to play guitar at the age of five by his father Bawo, Lulo was playing in a sextet by the age of 12. He is described as a spontaneous and spirited musician and his different styles come from a musical voyage to find flamenco roots in Spain, Latin jazz from South America, combined with his own artistic stamp and gypsy influences.

Tchavalo Schmitt exponent of Manouche, French gypsy jazz.

By Djingo - Aylesbury's Barnaby 'Badger' Brown & Matthew Heath - Guitars, Nick Graham - Bass and Ian Sands - Drums

Jimmy Rosenberg

Django's Forgotten Era

TRIVIA

The Allman Brothers Band instrumental Jessica was written by guitarist Dickie Betts in tribute to Reinhardt. He wanted to write a
song that could be played using only two fingers.

On May 16th 1953 Django suffered a massive brain hemorrhage and died, leaving behind his wife Sophie and son Babik. His music remains as vital and exciting today as it was when he lived, a legacy of joy to all future generations that rediscover the genius of the Belgian gypsy Django Reinhardt.

Since the time their ancestors began wandering west from northern India over 1,000 years ago, Gypsies have been simultaneously scorned and glorified, rejected and romanticized. They are sometimes treated as mythical and magical beings, representing people outside the confines and mundane realities of the everyday world. Contrary to folk myths, Gypsies are a real people and part of a real, enduring culture that has managed to survive despite severe obstacles of circumstance and prejudice.

Gypsy Jazz Guitars - List of Luthiers


Powell Guitars-
38 Hillary Road
Newton, Cheshire 
SK14 4EA
Manouche Guitars
Gitane Saga Guitars
Royal Jazz Guitars
R J Aylward Guitars
John Le Voi Guitars
David J Hodson Guitars

The Chilterns Hundreds Jazz Festival - yes it is possible - given Arts Grants and
Corporate support.  There are sufficient venues in the Town Centres and the surrounding
Villages to create a Major Annual Event (even Bicester can organise one) - If you are interested then
declare here in what capacity you are prepared to assist.  Chiltern Hundreds Jazz Festival Support