rock, punk, pop, all good, but django...

So recently, I can't stop listenign to Django Reinhart. keep in mind, I listen to a lot of different music. I raelly like a lot of punk stuff, and most of what I like and have around falls into teh rock/pop, punk, alternative, emo whatever you want to call it, but there's something about that crazy french gypsy and the simplicity with which he pulls otu such AMAZING sounds from that guitar that just reaches right into your whatever-you-want-to-call-what-isn't-your-body and yanks it into a goofy cartoon smile, and makes you want to tap your toes and be a black and white merry melodies character.
I personally could understand this thread goign straight to page two, with noone else understanding, seeing how even I think it's a logn shot anyone wants to talk about such a non-punk rock artist, but whatever.
-In my opinion, this is a good example of pure, honest MUSIC, no bulshit getting in the way, jsut complete and total indulgence in melody.
Dave

Never heard of them personally Dave, but I'll have a look for some tracks on Kazaa to see what they sound like...

His stuff is just staggering. They just releases a box set of his more big band stuff and some live things and it's SOO GOOD! I got into him through a guitar teacher I had but it's stuff anyone can totally get into. It's not all self indulgent like some guitar stuff can be.

it is good, I have this 5 cd set I got from SOMEwhere, I cna't even remember what it's called, but it's the chronological collection, and it's cds, all with their own packaging, but the cds themselve sall look the same with just 5 dfifferent collors and different numbers and dates and a little mini-title...it is amazing.
-the end.

django reinhardt is one of my all time favorites. i got some 4 cd boxed set of his for like $12 a couple years ago and it's amazing. i know what you mean by listening to him and not being able to help just smiling and tapping your feet. happens to me all the time. though my personal favorite is the "brussells 1947 & paris 51-53" CD. absolutely brilliant stuff. he's one of the greatest guitarists to ever live imo. vive le france.

and hell, most of the best music is non-punk-rock stuff. i mean, john coltrane, son house, charles mingus, james brown in the 60s... need i say more?

Wow.. a Django Reinhardt thread is SO not what I expected to see here but fuckin' eh, the dude flat out rawks! As a gypsy, its fair to say he was pretty punk rock for the time and he never learned to read music. He was just a brilliant musician.

I'd also recommend Stephane Grappelli who played with him quite a bit and is, of all things, a jazz violinist.

If you like this music, also watch Woody Allen's "Sweet and Lowdown" that came out about 2 or 3 years ago. Django's life is sort of the background to this story where Sean Penn plays a guitarist with an inferiority complex to Django, since he's only the 2nd best guitarist in the world. Brilliant film.

my friend wants to name his first born django. on the gin-joint jazz in europe tip, if stephane grappelli's going to be brought up, i've got to mention sidney bechet.

Man, the only problem with the name Django is the way George Lucas bastardized it by calling Bobba Fett's father, Django Fett.

L-A-M-E.

Man, the only problem with the name Django is the way George Lucas bastardized it by calling Bobba Fett's father, Django Fett.

L-A-M-E.

well shit, i mean the guy only had 2 fingers (other than his thumb) on his left hand! and he still played like a motherfucker...thats talent
if you want jazz guitarists its all about charlie christian, joe pass, and herb ellis too.

Them?! no offense, but 'them'?!

i love django. which era of his stuff do you prefer? i kind of like his really early stuff i guess it kind of depens on your mood. damnit- i'm gonna have to go play him now...

i actually know someone that was named after django. isn't that cool?

oh, yes!!!! i LOVE sidney bechet!!! such an amazing clarinet and soprano sax player.

heehee! i love this thread!

I apologise for my misrepresentation Prudence, but I'd never heard of him (him?? ) before yesterday....

Anyway, go buy the new album by The Datsuns{/B] kids...you can get it from Amazon.co.uk if it's not available in the US yet...

This may be a little off topic, but:
If you like that gypsy feel, try and check out Molehill. they are from Tucson, AZ, and just recently did a west coast mini tour. (late summer) They have a website, and as i remember what it is maybe i can post it here. Very sweet and dark klezmer/gypsy. Very emotive.

I'm so glad this thread was a success. It was good to see other fans around, and I appreciate the appreciation of the thread. thanks people...I want a puppy so I can name him django....that's been the plan for a while, but no puppy funds or time.
-sad....eventually, Django the basset hound...maybe.
Dave

Django is amazing! Love him!

yeah Sweet & Lowdown was a GREAT flick, and I normally avoid Woody Allen flicks, but it was tremendously entertaining.

Odd that because of Django's gypsy background, he is considered gypsy music, I've always seen him as a jazz great/legend but what do I know...

Speaking of gypsy music - that Molehill outfit sounds swell. I just saw Gogol Bordello, and they were AMAZING!!!! I saw on Molehill's site that they are opening for Gogol Bordello, which sounds like a tasty show!

Dude what a cool thread, I've loved Django for years. I actually took a class that taught how to play like him.

Wow.. those would have been great lessons to take. I've never taken formal lessons but if I did, it would be for this style of music.

And I avoid the Woody Allen movies too, but this one was great. Except the scenes with Woody in them, which fortunately weren't many.

speaking of _sweet & lowdown_, it's getting ready start on IFC in like 2 minutes.

Is The Hot Club Of San Francisco still around? They played great Django style jaz. Also try and see Jim Campilongo if you can - he used to play upstairs at the Paradise Loungue all the time. He co-wrote a Cake song or two.

HEllz yah.

But really, does anyone NOT love Django? Have you ever met anyone who said "yeah, I don't really like Django Reinhardt"? I doubt it. It's kinda like not liking Patsy Cline or Billie Holiday (oh, btw, if you say you don't like one of the aformentioned ladies, then you have no soul, you have no heart, you have no life).

A while ago, I bought a good compilation from Yazoo Records called "Pioneers of the Jazz Guitar". It features contemporaries of Django like Eddie Lang and Carl Kress. It's a real good time, as is the majority of Yazoo's catalogue.

Since I was just listening to this today, I thought I'd mention Speedy West & Jimmy Bryant. Sure, they play western swing, but Jimmy Bryant is kinda like a fucked up Django if he lived in California and did a lot of speed. Check them out if you haven't already!

i like bix too...for when you need to hear some horn...

Jimmy Bryant is rad! If you like country swing you should check out Jimmy Rivers. I saw the first show he had played in years at the Great American Music Hall in SF a few years back. It was an amazing night. Dave & Deke, The Collins Kids and Jimmy Bryant. You just gotta love three double-neck Mosrites on stage at once - if only Joe Maphis had been there!

Get the Brisbane Bop album! DeMarcos 23 club in Brisbane was the hub of country music back in the 40's and 50's. There's pics up on the wall of every country great that played there and a piano that'sbeen broken since Jerry Lee Lewis broke it way back when. They also have a barbeque that holds six full cows!

Allright Googuse!!!!

Brisbane Bop has been on my wish list for a long time. I gotta break down and buy it soon.