Django Reinhart

Django Reinhardt
Reinhardt in 1946
Background information
Birth name	Jean Reinhardt
Born	(1910-01-23)23 January 1910, Liberchies, Pont-à-Celles, Belgium
Died	16 May 1953(1953-05-16) (aged 43) Samois sur Seine, France
Genres	Jazz, gypsy jazz (also: Gypsy swing, Hot club jazz or Jazz manouche), bebop, Romani music
Occupation(s)	Guitarist, composer
Instruments	Guitar, violin, banjo
Years active	1928–1953
Associated acts	Stéphane Grappelli,Quintette du Hot Club de France

Jean "Django" Reinhardt (French: [dʒãŋɡo ʁɛjnaʁt] or [dʒɑ̃ɡo ʁenɑʁt]; 23 January 1910 – 16 May 1953) was a Belgian-born, Romani French jazz guitarist and composer, regarded as one of the greatest musicians of the twentieth century. He was the first jazz talent to emerge from Europe and remains the most significant by far.

Reinhardt lost most control of two fingers on his left hand in a fire in his youth. He developed a modified technique to overcome this disability and went on to forge an entirely new 'hot' jazz guitar style, now known as Gypsy jazz, or jazz manouche, that remains a musical tradition in France and neighbouring countries—especially within Gypsy culture. Reinhardt's innovations on the guitar helped elevated it above its prior position as usually only a rhythm instrument.

With violinist Stéphane Grappelli, Reinhardt formed the Paris-based Quintette du Hot Club de France in 1934. The group was among the first to play jazz that featured the guitar as a lead instrument. Reinhardt recorded in France with many visiting American musicians, including Coleman Hawkins and Benny Carter, and briefly toured the United States with Duke Ellington's orchestra in 1946. He died suddenly of a stroke at the age of 43.

Reinhardt's most popular compositions have become standards within gypsy jazz, including Minor Swing,Daphne, Belleville, Djangology, Swing '42, and Nuages. Jazz guitarist Frank Vignola claims that nearly every major popular-music guitarist in the world has been influenced by Reinhardt. Over the last few decades, annual Django festivals have been held throughout Europe and the U.S., and a biography has been written about his life. In February 2017, the Berlin International Film Festival held the world premiere of the French film, Django.