Search - Django Reinhardt :: His American Friends I&II

Swingtime in Paris

Nikica Gilic | Zagreb, Croatia | 06/30/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Perfect example of swing music, with numerous jazz-standards, this double cd package features various groups centering around the great guitar player.

Coleman Hawkins, Bill Coleman, Benny Carter, Rex Stewart and other greats are on their top level, while violin player Eddie South was a revelation for me (I have heard of him but had no idea he was this good). Grappelli is here as well, but only as a piano player in the ensembles.



Literature on classical jazz often includes the performances from these sessions among the best in the players' respective careers. Reindhart plays many strong solos in these cd-s, but for those of us who are well aware of his imagination and dexterity, his work as a rhythm guitarist may be even more intriguing. On songs he doesn't solo at all the rhythmycal pulse from his guitar gives the performance the drive and the swing like I have rarely heard from any band."