Musician of the Month: Django Reinhardt

Django Reinhardt continues to inspire guitarists six decades after his death. His talents, ability to overcome life-changing challenges and unique style awarded him the title “King of European Jazz.”  While Django is still the most significant European jazz musician today, it’s the feeling his music draws out of listeners that makes him an excellent choice for our musician of the month. 

The cherished sounds of this happy-go-lucky Gypsy have a lot to do with his success. But, perhaps the most memorable contribution to the music industry, his invention of a new way of fingering chords after a horrible caravan fire scorched the entire right side of his body, is what created the three-fingered lightning guitarist legend. Let’s take a closer look at his contributions to music and the life and legacy of this cherished jazz musician. 

The Essential Django Reinhardt Playlist

Whether you’re a longtime fan or interested in checking out the most popular songs of Django Reinhardt, here’s a list of some of his greatest works. Add these to a playlist, sit back, and enjoy the unique jazz style created by this famous Gypsy legend. 

Swing 42

If you’re looking for upbeat and spunky, Swing 42 will inevitably bring you to your feet. Composed during the World War II era, it’s a powerful reminder that even the most difficult times have shining moments. 

Listen to this swinging jazz number here. 

Nuages

One of his most famous compositions, Django recorded Nuages over a dozen times throughout his career. While the song is easily recognizable, Django’s new improvisations with each release kept this composition exciting. 

Belleville

This Django song is named after a working-class, immigrant neighborhood in Paris. Inspired by the vibrant, cultural spirit this neighborhood maintained despite its financial struggles, Belleville continues to inspire listeners worldwide. 

Hum along to this upbeat number here. 

Interesting Facts About the King of European Jazz

• Django Reinhardt’s actual name was Jean. Django was the Gypsy name his mother gave him when he was born in a caravan on the road in Belgium. At the time, Romany families gave their babies a public name (Jean) and a private name (Django). The Romany word Django means “to awake,” a fitting name for a revolutionary pioneer in the jazz industry. 

• He was born into one of two bands of Gypsies living in France in the early 1900s, inspiring one of his most well-known titles- the Gypsy Legend. 

• Reinhardt was considered a child prodigy, starting with the violin at a young age and mastering the banjo at twelve-years-old. He was playing music for a living by the time he was only fifteen-years-old. 

• Along with Stéphanie Grappelli, Reinhardt formed the Paris-based “Quintette du Hot Club de France” in 1934. He was among the first groups to play jazz that featured the guitar as a lead instrument. 

• Reinhardt briefly toured the U.S. in 1946 with the famous Duke Ellington’s orchestra. 

• Reinhardt was caught in a caravan fire in October of 1928. The fire scorched the entire right side of his body and burned his whole left hand, the note making hand for banjo players. As a result, he permanently lost the use of his pinky and ring finger. Even though most people thought the musician would never pick up another instrument, Reinhardt went on to force his stiff claw around the fretboard. He learned an entirely new way to finger chords, marking the turning point of his musical career.  

• Reinhardt’s life was cut short at the young age of 43 when he died from a stroke. 

• In recent years, Django festivals have been held annually across Europe and the U.S. 

• In 2017, the Berlin International Film Festival held the world premiere of their French film, Django. The movie portrays the heartfelt resilience of the musician throughout his eventful life. It has brought in over $3 million in sales worldwide and can still be viewed on streaming services like Amazon Prime. 

The Personal Life of Django Reinhardt

Jean Reinhardt was born on January 23rd, 1910 in Liberchies, Pont-à-Celles, Belgium. His father, Jean Eugene Weiss, used his mother’s surname while living in Paris to avoid French military conscription, formally going by Jean-Baptiste Reinhardt. His mother, Laurence Reinhardt, was a dancer. Reinhardt spent most of his youth in Romani encampments close to Paris with his mother and father. This is where he was introduced to the wonderful world of music. Emerging from a furtive, vagabond, and occasionally criminal background, Reinhardt came at jazz from a full-fledged folk-art-pop music background. 

At the young age of 17, Reinhardt married Florine “Bella” Mayer, a girl from the same Romani settlement. His first official song would be recorded a year later, in 1928, drawing fast international attention. On the night of November 2nd, 1928, just after accepting a job from British bandleader Jack Hylton, Reinhardt knocked over a candle, setting his caravan on fire. Before he could even start with Hylton’s band, Reinhardt was hospitalized for 18 months due to injuries from the blaze. Ignoring doctor orders, Reinhardt passed on the recommended amputation of his badly burned right leg. While doctors believed he would never play the guitar again, Reinhardt applied himself intensely to music, adapting to his injuries and relearning the craft. 

Within a year of the fire, Bella Mayer gave birth to Reinhardt’s first-born son, Henri “Lousson” Reinhardt. The couple split shortly after, and Lousson eventually took the surname of his mother’s new husband. But he would go on to become an accomplished musician himself, recording songs alongside his famous father. Reinhardt’s second son, Babik, would also follow his father’s footsteps as a jazz guitarist, along with a third generation of descendants, his two grandchildren. 

Over six decades after his death, Reinhardt remains one of the greatest guitar players of all time. Throughout his career, he wrote nearly 100 songs. While interest in Reinhardt’s music was minimal in the years directly following his death, a revival of interest in his music has progressed since the mid-sixties. The world-renowned Allman Brothers Band made famous a song titled Jessica, a tribute to Reinhardt. Many prominent U.S. jazz guitarists credit Reinhardt as having influenced their style, including Charlie Byrd and Wes Montgomery. In addition to the 2017 film Django, Woody Allen produced Sweet and Lowdown in 1999. Allen’s film tells the story of a Django Reinhardt-like character with direct mention of the musician and actual recordings of his music included in the film. 

Django Reinhardt is considered a musical genius to this day, sitting right up top with jazz greats like Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington. Could he have listened to doctors and let the tragedy he faced him in his early years keep him from pursuing the career path he seemed to be born to follow? Absolutely! Instead, Reinhardt used the shaky predictions for his future in music to bring him to the next level as a performer. The Gypsy guitarist inspires anyone who has been told they can’t do something, to work even harder in pursuit of their dreams.

Inspire your students to persevere and grow their love of music no matter what life throws their way by connecting with them through the Practice Space app today!