Django Reinhardt - Film Clip 1952

Jean-Baptiste "Django" Reinhardt- was a Gypsy, born in Belgium in 1910.

He suffered a fire accident at 18, which deprived him of the use of all but two fingers on his left hand and which left one of his legs paralysed, inspite of this he went on to become one of the greatest Jazz Guitarists of all time.Using his two fingers to greater effectiveness than many if the best Guitarists with a full complement of digits

He was a member of the legendary Quintette Du Hot Club De France" formed by Louis Vola, with Reinhardt, Roger Chapul on Guitars and Stephane Grapelli on Violin, Vola on Bass.

The concept of The Lead and Rhythm Guitar arose from this Band. Reinhardt and Grapelli prior ti WWII went on to form a strong partnership adding more conventional instruments. They eventually wnet on to collaborate with contemporary Jazz greats like Coleman Hawkins, Benny Goodman and Louis Armstrong and toured with Duke Ellington.

Reinhardy settled in Paris after WWII and carried on a successful career, generally regarded as one of the most advanced Guitarists of all time, his career was often marred by his natural Romany wanderlust and rejection of modern life, as exe,plified by his penchant for skipping concerts in preference for walks on the Beach, or simply to lie in

He dies in 1952 from a Brain Haemorrhage Reinhardt influenced a whole swathe of great Guitarists like George Benson, Wes Montgomery, Chet Atkins, Jimi Hendrix- who named his second Band the Band of Gypsy's after Reinhardt- amongst many others.

Reinhardt's story was one of incredible talent and triumph over adversity.

I have embedded a film clip from circa 1952 showing his legendary technique.