TWO SWINGING ICONS MAKE BEAUTIFUL NOSTALGIC MUSIC TOGETHER
A. POLLOCK | PLYMOUTH, DEVON United Kingdom | 04/12/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This impressive slice of nostalgia by two swinging jazz icons with a style no one else has ever replicated, is served up via fifty-three tracks from their productive years 1934-1946. The esteemed gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt and the classically trained French-born violinist Stephane Grappelli may have come from opposite backgrounds but together made beautifully crafted music. Forming their Quintette du Hot Club de France, they figured highly when Paris was a jazz hot-spot and refuge for many American musicians who found respect, motivation and artistic freedom. Naturally, many of the songs emanate from the Great American Songbook with DINAH, OH, LADY BE GOOD, EXACTLY LIKE YOU and SOLITUDE just a few examples of their repertoire played on this compilation. LOVE'S MELODY, BELLEVILLE and the ever popular NUAGES occupy a rarer jazz concept. DAPHNE is credited to Django and SWING GUITARS indicates a joint Reinhardt/Grappelli composition. A couple of vocals by Freddy Taylor on SHINE and AFTER YOU'VE GONE contribute another layer to their unique upbeat style which lightly and brightly sounds cleanly keen on this definitive collection."