Django Reinhardt - Gypsy Guitar Music Legend - Part 1

Almost a half century after his passing, Django Reinhardt still remains a towering figure in the annals of jazz guitar. To this day, his blistering guitar technique stands up to that of present day virtuoso jazz guitarists such as Joe Pass, Pat Martino, Tal Farlow and George Benson. Author James Lincoln Collier in his publication "The Making of Jazz", called Django "the most outstanding guitarist in the anals of jazz". When you take into account the number of jazz guitarists he has influenced, he may very well be. His unique style of guitar playing - combining European influenced licks and chords with jazz rhythms was unheard of during his time. He was among the very first of the European jazz musicians who could play the jazz feel the right way and he left an historical footprint on the world of jazz guitar music. His most important influence was session guitarist Eddie Lang (the first major jazz guitar player) and he learned Lang's European based chord based techniques and took them one step further.

Born Jean Baptise Reinhardt to LaBelle Reinhardt and Jean Vees (his probable father) on January 23, 1910 in Liverchees, Belgium next to the French border, Django was raised in authentic gypsy fashion - touring around in a caravan and living like a vagabond. He spent a lot of his early years wandering across Europe, finally settling just outside of Paris. Django did not attend school and was illiterate - he could neither read nor write. He did however have a love and a talent for music and finally received a banjo from a neighbor named Raclot when he was twelve years old. He never was given formal lessons, but was tutored by his father and other musicians in the area and soon thereafter began performing with his father in cafes. By age fourteen he had become a fixture on the Parisian night club circuit and by age eighteen he recorded his first session as a sideman, accompanying an accordion performer on his banjo.

On November 2, 1928, tragedy struck. Django heard some noise and thought it was a mouse scurrying around his wagon. He grabbed a candle, which unexpectedly fell out of the candleholder and onto a pile of highly flammable fake flowers that all at once erupted into flames, setting the entire wagon on fire. Django used a blanket to take his wife out of the blazing wagon, but his bare legs and left hand were severely burned. Because of the degree of the burns, doctors suggested cutting off Django's burned legs, but he adamently refused. He would later regain the use of both legs. His left hand did not have the same good fortune and his music career was thought to be over. Django was strong however and trudged along, trying to play his guitar again while in the hospital. He eventually regained the use of his thumb, first and second fingers, but never the full use of the ring and fourth fingers. Over a year later, he was able to play again using his functioning left-hand fingers! Fortunately, for serious gypsy jazz guitar players there are multiple guitar tab music books in print that feature Django's recorded guitar solos as well as multiple instructional guitar DVDs that teach his melodic and harmonic concepts along with the techniques he used to play them.

About the Author

Peabody Conservatory trained guitarist Steven Herron helps people succeed at becoming better guitar players. His company ChordMelody.com features an enormous, unique selection of jazz guitar tab as well as guitar books and instructional DVDs by Django Reinhardt himself.

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