Django Reinhardt : Keep Cool

When one thinks of Django Reinhardt, they usually think of his interplay with violinist Stéphane Grappelli on heated swing jams in the 1930s. However, Keep Cool (Five Four 14) shows that, late in life, Reinhardt had mastered both the electric guitar and bebop. These performances from 1950-53 comprise most of his last work and find Django interacting with the Diz-and-Bird inspired team of trumpeter Roger Guerin and altoist Hubert Fol. Django shows that he was a worthy rival of Barney Kessel and Tal Farlow even though few in the U.S. knew it.

Originally Published January 1, 2007