 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: wjk
Date: 2004-06-30 03:58
I never fail to be astounded by the unique guitar style of Django Reinhardt--I recently became aware that he often included clarinetists in his groups. Any info on these clarinetists or suggested recordings? How can the clarinetist best play in the "Django style?"
Thanks!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Steve Epstein
Date: 2004-06-30 05:46
Hubert Rostaing and Maurice Meunier: "Jazz in Paris / Clarinettes a Saint-Germain des Paris". Don't know where I found out about this CD, maybe this board. I bought it at Borders. These are not recordings with Django or the Hot Quintette, though, just of them and their bands.
Rostaing was a classical musican. Replaced Grapelli during WW II while Grapelli fled to England. Interesting how Django was able to stay alive and free from the Nazis during the war in France, even though he was a gypsy. Rostaing left during the '50's, went on to Hollywood and wrote film scores. Don't know what happened to Meunier, who succeeded him. You can google these guys.
Steve Epstein
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ned
Date: 2004-06-30 06:41
Astounded could well be an understatement, given his lack of a full set of digits on one hand and his complete mastery of the guitar!
He's one member of my small group of jazz musicians from whom I take inspiration.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BobD
Date: 2004-06-30 11:48
Although I admire Dj's playing I'm not an expert on his professional career. Did he really head any group or have I misinterpreted your comment?? He played with the "Hot Club" as did Sidney Bechet.....who was a clarinet player as well as sop sax. I am still undecided about just how Dj lost his fingers since gypsy tradition was to cut-off a finger when a member was caught stealing from another member!! "Three strikes and you're out..."
Dj, of course, recited a different reason.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: larryb
Date: 2004-06-30 14:36
According to most accounts, his fingers were welded together in a fire.
Saxophonists/clarinetists who played regularly with Reinhardt early on were:
Alix Combelle
Andre Ekyan
Benny Carter also played and recorded with Reinhardt in 1936-37, but mostly alto and trumpet. It's likely that he played some clarinet too.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: wjk
Date: 2004-06-30 14:51
I understand that he led several combos and also played with US Armed Forces combos after the Allies invaded France. I understand that the later combos incorporated clarinets, instead of the exclusively earlier string combos. I also understand that Beryl Davis sang with one incarnation of the group, and that she is still alive.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: D Dow
Date: 2004-06-30 18:59
Always admired the way Django could do a chromatic scales so cleanly...
David Dow
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ned
Date: 2004-07-02 06:03
I checked out my collection and found out that Django recorded with a number of American musicians just prior to the outbreak of war in 1939.
Amongst my records is a compilation CD (distinctly lacking in discographical data) but obviously, on one session, there is Benny Carter (alto) Coleman Hawkins (ten) and take your pick of Rex Stewart, Charlie Shavers (possibly)on trumpet. Honeyscukle Rose, Crazy Rhythm, Out of Nowhere, Sweet Georgia Brown (clarinet on this track, but name unknown to me), Bugle Call Rag & Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea are the numbers. Seems that Django got on the wrong side of these musos early in the piece, from what I have read, and he has NO solo on any of these numbers (as a consequence?) - you can literally hear him straining at the leash. My only criticism of Django ( be I so bold!) would be to say that, possibly, his use of upstrokes and much tremolo may well have put the drummer off-side. Not Django's fault really, of course, as he was used to playing Hot Club Quintette style.
I also have one quartet track with Barney Bigard, Rex Stewart and Billy Taylor where they play I Know That You Know and Django does his usual excellent solo and accompanying. This is a very satisfying session too and I'm sure there are some other tracks recorded too, I just don't seem to be able to find them.
Overall - Django's foray in the USA was deemed to be a failure unfortunately, from all accounts. I understand that ego and personality clashes were much to blame.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: larryb
Date: 2004-07-02 14:37
John Kelley -
No way that's Charlie Shavers on trumpet on the famous Crazy Rhythm date. It's Bill Coleman.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
