Jazz / Swing, Gypsy, South/Eastern European Traditions, Continental Jazz, Jazz Instrument, Guitar Jazz
Alix Combelle Sax (Tenor) Barney Bigard Drums, Clarinet Benny Carter Sax (Alto), Trumpet Bertie King Sax (Tenor), Clarinet Bill Coleman Guitar, Photography, Trumpet Billy Taylor, Sr. Composer Christian Wagner Clarinet, Sax (Alto) Dicky Wells Photography Django Reinhardt Guitar Eddie Smith Violin Eddie South Photography, Violin Emil Stern Piano Fletcher Allen Sax (Alto) Garnet Clark Photography Jerry Mengo Drums Len Harrison Bass Lucien Simoens Bass Max Jones Photography Paul Cordonnier Bass Rex Stewart Cornet Robert Montmarche Drums Wilson Myers Bass York DeSouza
Released in 1996, BGO's double-disc tribute to Django Reinhardt stands among numerous compilations focusing upon the Gypsy guitarist's collaborations with North American musicians. Despite the complete and regrettable absence of American harmonica virtuoso Larry Adler (who recorded four outstanding titles with Reinhardt in May 1938), this compendium does cover a lot of ground. Thirty-two selections recorded between March 2, 1935 and April 5, 1938 feature Reinhardt and several of Europe's best jazz players in collaboration with tenor saxophonist Coleman Hawkins, reedman Frank "Big Boy" Goudie, multi-instrumentalist Benny Carter, trumpeter Bill Coleman, trombonist Dicky Wells, cornetist Rex Stewart, clarinetist Barney Bigard, violinist Eddie South, and pianist Garnet Clark. While every interaction Reinhardt ever had with U.S. improvisers would require multiple compact discs, this historic overview does a fine job of commemorating the inter-national collectivity of jazz during the mid-'30s. ~ arwulf arwulf, All Music Guide |