Reinhardt, Django: Americans In Paris

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Django Reinhardt Vol.8Americans in Paris, Part TwoOriginal Recordings 1938-1945Django Reinhardt was the top European jazzmusician prior to the 1950s in addition to beingone of the two most significant jazz guitarists ofthe 1930s and '40s (along with CharlieChristian). Surprisingly, he only visited the UnitedStates once. Reinhardt was booked for anAmerican tour in 1946 with Duke Ellington'sorchestra but the visit was a major disappointment.Django arrived in the U.S. expecting to betreated as a hero. Instead, he was neglected by apublic more interested in the rise of bebop, thecollapse of the swing era big bands and theincreasing prominence of pop singers. Inaddition, Ellington failed to write any new worksthat featured Django, just having the guitarist jama few standards with the big band's rhythmsection. Reinhardt became homesick for France,he missed or appeared late at several key concertsand, when he returned home, his United Statesadventure was just thought of as a brief misfire.In contrast, when major American jazzmusicians visited Europe in the 1930s and '40s,they went out of their way to find and play withReinhardt. This resulted in many classicrecordings that feature Django holding his ownwith the Americans.Jean Baptiste \Django Reinhardt was born23 January 1910 in Liverchies, Belgium.Originally a banjoist in the 1920s who playeddance music, Reinhardt discovered jazz throughthe recordings of Louis Armstrong. He wasalready doubling on guitar when a disastrous firein his gypsy caravan permanently scarred one ofhis hands. Despite only being able to use twofingers on the hand he used to finger chords,Reinhardt made a comeback and developed apowerful solo style. When he began regularlyteaming up with violinist Stephane Grappelli in1933 as co-leaders of the Quintet of the Hot Clubof France (an all-string group consisting of violin,three acoustic guitars and bass), a new soundwas born.In addition to his work with the Quintet,Reinhardt appeared with a variety of all-stargroups that often featured American greats.'Americans In Paris Part 1' has Django interactingwith tenor-saxophonist Coleman Hawkins,trumpeter Bill Coleman, trombonist Dickie Wellsand violinist Eddie South. 'Americans In ParisPart 2' begins in 1938 with Benny Carter.Carter (1907-2003) had a remarkable careerfull of consistent achievements and impressivelongevity. He made his recording debut in 1927with Charlie Johnson's Paradise Ten, was alreadya notable altoist and arranger by the followingyear, and worked with Fletcher Henderson,McKinney's Cotton Pickers and his own bigbands. A top altoist and trumpeter in addition tobeing an occasional clarinettist, Carter was ingreat demand in Europe during his three yearsoverseas (1935-38), both as a soloist and as anarranger/composer. After returning to the U.S.,he worked steadily for the next sixty years until hisretirement at the age of ninety.The first three selections on this collectionfeature Carter leading a septet/octet ofEuropeans incl