Django Reinhardt and the Quintet of the Hot Club of France

Guitarist Django Reinhardt and violinist Stephane Grappelli were probably the two greatest European jazz musicians of the 20th century. Both men were founders and members of an outfit known as the Quintet of The Hot Club of France, a jazz ensemble that recorded during the Forties.

 Reinhardt, born in Liberchies, Pont-a-Celles, Belgium, was a gypsy guitar prodigy. When he was eighteen, his hand was so badly burned by a fire in his caravan that two fingers on his left hand were rendered useless. His family and friends thought that any future career plans as a musician had been prematurely snuffed out, but Reinhardt adapted and learned to play with just the index and middle finger on his fret hand. Despite his handicap, Reinhardt still earned a reputation as one of the greatest guitarists in the history of popular music.

 In 1934, Reinhardt, jazz violin virtuoso, Stephane Grappelli, brother and fellow guitarist, Joesph Reinhardt, guitarist Roger Chaput and bassist Louis Vola formed the “Quintette du Hot Club de France” and recorded some of the best jazz of the Thirties and Forties.

 During his tenure with the Quintet of the Hot Club of France, Reinhardt recorded the classic selections, “Minor Swing,” “Djangology,” “Runnin” Wild,” “Paramount Stomp,” :Belleville,” and “Night and Day.” The Hot Club recorded in the swing style that was the vogue of the mid and late Thirties. The band would disband in 1939, only to reform in the Forties with a different line up of sidemen supporting Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli.

 Reinhardt died in 1953 at the age of 43, while Grappelli would continue playing and recording until his death in 1997, a month shy of his 90th birthday. Django Reinhardt would leave behind a legacy of musical brilliance and serve as an inspiration and major influence on countless guitarists from rock, country, jazz, and even classical music. Rock guitarists, Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead and Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, both suffered serious injuries to their hands early in their careers and credit Reinhardt as a huge inspiration in overcoming their respective injuries. Reinhardt and the Quintet of the Hot Club of France appear on numerous fine compilation albums.

Ali “Farka "Toure Albums and History

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Ali “Farka "Toure is among only a handful of African folk musicians who have found an audience for their music beyond the borders of the African continent. Toure’s involvement with American guitarist and musicologist Ry Cooder in the Nineties brought him to the attention of North American roots music listeners. Toure would eventually become known as the “Bluesman of Africa”

Toure was born in Kanau, Mali, in 1939. As a youth, Toure was introduced to African-American music, including soul from the likes of Ray Charles and Otis Redding and the Delta blues. Toure wrote music and performed for a group called Troupe 117 which was organized by the Malian government following the country’s establishment of independence.

In 1968, Toure appeared in a performance in Sofia, Bulgaria, his first such appearance outside of Africa. By the Seventies, Toure was performing on Radio Mali, and the Sonafric label recruited him to recorded several albums during the decade.

In 1995, Toure recorded the brilliant “Talking Timbuktu” with Ry Cooder and embarked on a world tour. For his next album, “Niafunke” (1999), Toure’s producer needed to install remote recording equipment near Toure’s farm as the performer refused to leave his rice fields unattended to make recordings.

During his career endeavours, Toure had always sought out the security and familiarity of his hometown. In recognition of his unwavering loyalty, he was elected mayor of Niafunké in 2004.

Toure passed away in 2006 at the age of sixty-six.

Other fine albums by Toure include, “Ali Farka Toure” (1984), “Ali Farka Toure” (1988), “Ali FarkaToure (Ten Songs from the Legendary Singer of Mali)” (1988), “The Source” (1991), and “Savane” (2006).

Blind Lemon Jefferson: Matchbox Blues

Blind Lemon Jefferson was born in Coutchman, Texas, in 1893. He was an enormously influential country blues singer whose songs have been covered by rock performers as diverse as the Beatles and Bob Dylan. Dylan recorded Jefferson’s “See That My Grave is Kept Clean” on his debut album, while Beatles and others, recorded rocking versions of his “Matchbox Blues.”

After traveling around Texas with the legendary folk and blues singer, Leadbelly, Jefferson wound up in Chicago in the mid-Twenties. He secured a recording contract with Paramount Records and began laying down classic sides. Jefferson’s recordings proved for posterity that he was, in fact, one of the best singers and guitarists of early country blues.

Jefferson was a fast picking guitarist of tremendous facility, and he played in a wide variety of styles. Jefferseon’s recordings seldom become tiresome as is the case with many other country blues singers. Jefferson’s recorded classics include, “Hot Dogs,” “Jack O’ Diamonds Blues,” “Black Snake Moan,” and “Easy Rider Blues.” He was one of the first male blues singers to record solo with his own guitar accompaniment.

Jefferson died of exposure when he became lost in Chicago in December, 1929 during a bad snowstorm. Several fine compilations of Jefferson’s recordings are available including, “King of the Country Blues” (1985), “Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order” (Volumes 1-4) (1991), “The Best of Blind Lemon Jefferson” (2000), and “Classic Sides” (2003).