Django Reinhardt

[Mr Sucessy pants]

"Reinhardt is often regarded as one of the greatest guitar players of all time and was the first important European jazz musician who made major contributions to the development of the genre. After his third and fourth fingers were paralyzed when he suffered burns in a fire, Reinhardt used only the index and middle fingers of his left hand on his solos and invented an entirely new style of jazz guitar technique (sometimes called 'hot' jazz guitar) that has since become a living musical tradition within French Gypsy culture. With violinist Stéphane Grappelli, he co-founded the Quintette du Hot Club de France, described by critic Thom Jurek as "one of the most original bands in the history of recorded jazz." [video=youtube;Hq0tPjdfHME]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hq0tPjdfHME[/video]

[Mr Sucessy pants]

On a more personal note, i don't usually like jazz in fact until i heard Django i didn't like Jazz at all, but Django has a gypsy feel in his music that caught my attention. i must admit, it's only recently i discovered him so idk alot about him aside that he is highly regarded as one of the best guitarist in jazz and i totally get why, the guy is amazing, he is so fast and creative and instead of using distortion to be loud and imposing he uses his technique and speed on an acoustic guitar. i love that cause i favor the acoustic guitar over the electric one, it's more melody driven without relying on fancy effects and honestly, though idk much about him after i heard his guitar playing on that first song 'lime house blues' i knew right away this guy was special, i quickly realised he was REALLY GOOD and not just him, his violinist Stéphane Grappelli is amazing as well and they play of each other in such a natural way, i can't explain it, they just have a great chemistry that pushes the song to it's limit.

[SteveO]

I vote an emphatic YES !!!!! ( saw Grappelli live in the 80s !!!!!...amazing musician!)

[R_burke]

I think Django IS the best guitarist ever, unfortunately there are few if any recordings with decent sound quality of his work so I have a lot of this style and not much of his. Bireli Lagreen, Rosenberg Trio, John Jorgensen and a lot of the "Hot Club" bands

[jazzboCR]

One of the Modern Jazz Quartet's more Europhile recordings (and a terrific tune) is named after the Belgian: http://www.allmusic.com/album/django-japan-mw0000188435 << an essential jazz piece.

[Music Head]

yea, but how do you guys vote?
mine's No btw

[SteveO]

Fair game MH !!!! and you are right ...how do the others vote ??? Yay or Nay ????....lol