Stéphane Grappelli - Young Django (1979)

Django Reinhardt was a legendary Romani-French guitarist, He was the first hugely influential jazz figure to emerge from Europe and the person most credited with developing the style known as gypsy jazz, jazz manouche, or hot club jazz. Reinhardt came up with a unique way of propelling the acoustic guitar into the front line of a jazz combo in the days before amplification became widespread. He would spin joyous, arcing, marvelously inflected solos above the thrumming groundwork of two rhythm guitars and a bass, with cohort Stephane Grappelli's elegantly gliding violin serving as the perfect foil.

The French jazz violinist Stéphane Grappelli was born 26 January 1908 iand died 1 December 1997 in Paris, France. He was born Stéfano Grappelli but had his first name gallicized to Stéphane. He was billed as Stéphane Grappelly at first, but the last name spelling on recordings changed to Grappelli in the 1960s, although he still signed his name as "Grappelly."
One of the greatest violin jazz prebop players (but also an occasional pianist), Stéphane Grappelli is known for his legendary collaboration with Django Reinhardt in the '30s and '40s in their Quintette Du Hot Club De France.

The group disbanded when the war broke (Grappelli went in London while Django stayed in France). After the war, he appeared on hundreds of recordings including sessions with Oscar Peterson, Jean-Luc Ponty, Gary Burton and countless other great musicians (including few recordings with Django Reinhardt again).
He never stopped playing worldwide until his death at the age of 89.

This album finds veteran violinist Stephane Grappelli joined by bassist Niels Pedersen and guitarists Philip Catherine and Larry Coryell for a memorable tribute to Django Reinhardt. Grappelli has recorded many Reinhardt memorial albums through the years but this one is particularly special for both Coryell and Catherine go out of their way to display the unexpected influence that Reinhardt has had on their styles. The guitarists contribute a song apiece and also enjoy playing seven compositions co-written by Django and Grappelli.

The album was recorded: January 19-21, 1979 at Tonstudio Zuckerfabrik, Stuttgart/West Germany

Tracklist:

Djangology 3:24
Sweet Chorus 4:20
Minor Swing 3:27
Are You In The Mood? 3:27
Gallerie St. Hubert 4:08
Tears 6:18
Swing Guitars 3:49
Oriental Shuffle 3:43
Blues For Django And Stephane 4:57

Stéphane Grappelli - Young Django (1979)

(320 kbps, cover art included)