This is the tenth in a new series released on the French label Fremaux.
This series under the direction of Daniel Nevers will become the definitive Django collection, incorporating many rare and previously unreleased tracks, including radio performances and out takes.

This Double Cd also comes with a 40 page booklet in English and French containing many interesting photos. If your seriously interested in Django or are looking for a particular track this is the series for you.

From the liner notes by Daniel Nevers

The winter of 1939-1940 was tranquil for DjangoReinhardt who spent this period of the phoney war in the Montparnasse district of Paris. He was not too concer ned by the political goings on in any case, having not been called up. His younger brother "Nin-nin" and his pals Baro Ferret, Andre' Ekyan, Philippe Brun and Alix Compelled were also in the same situation and were often found playing with Django in the chic cabaret "Jimmy's Bar" in Rue Huyghens.

In his book of memoirs, entitled Attention ma Vie, Henri Salvador relates the opening of this club around 1936. Henri, then in his teens already a talented guitarist, was hired by the Italian owner, along with pianist Marcel Maselin, bassist Emmanuel Soudieux and a black drummer (of Dutch nationality) named Martin. After the initial month totally deprived of custom, Henri suggested that the boss brought as many horseshoes as possible from his stables in Vincennes. They were then cleaned, inscribed with an advertising slogan for the cabaret and deposited in cars parked in the neighborhood. This somewhat wacky publicity stunt bore its fruit and the clientele came flocking in. Unfortunately the young guitarist had to leave the following year, called up for military service. When he returned two years later, having deserted and having tasted life behind the bars, he had been replaced by Django! He did have the pleasure, however; of accompanying this fabulous gypsy during a short period, probably at the beginning of the phoney war; when Django's allotted accompanist departed. This brief union could not have taken place after September 1939 as Henri was nonetheless summoned to serve, and it is implausible to consider that it was during Henri's desertion in '38 as Django was still playing with Grappelli and the Quintet and they didn't mingle with the team from 'Jimmy's". Unfortunately, no waxed trace exists of this episode reuniting the most wonderful of jazz guitarrists and one of the future champions of French song.

We had a glimpse of the world of "Jimmy's" in the previous volume (Fremaux FA 309), when Charles Delaunay (who had not been considered unfit) took leave in February and March 1940 to do some recording. Occasionally other friends teamed up with the above mentioned promoters of French jazz, including the trumpeters Alex Renard and Pierre Ailier and the Negro-American pianist Charlie Lewis (to become Charles Louis). Django, yearning to create a new Quintet of the Hot Club of France, almost hired the young clarinetist.saxophonist who played in the dance hall, "Mimi Pinson", believing that a clarinet could replace the Grappelli on violin. He maybe dreamed of teaming up with Michel Warlop's violin, but the resulting mix of two passionate and crazy geniuses would have not doubt been tempting fate and furthermore Warlop was dedicating his time to composition and orchestration. Django was keen on the youngster from "Mimi Pinson" hut his plans for a new hand were stalled for awhile for obvious reasons. This talented twenty two year old was called Hubert Rostaing. Rostaing could not have participated in the February/March session as his audition was held a month after, shortly before the German offensive. Alex Renard, Philippe Brun and Combelle were in turn called up to serve their country. Renard and Alix later returned to Paris whereas Brun opted for Switzerland and only rejoined Montparnasse seven or eight years later One of his few compositions was entitled At The jimmy's Bar, recorded in Zurich in the company of local musicians. Little did he know that this was to he the final side published by the Swing label before its closing due to the war...............

CD1
Andre Ekyan - Saxaphone Solo 1-Rosetta 2-Sugar 3-A pretty girl is lke a melody 4-Nargie Django's Music 5-Tears 6-Limehouse Blues 7-Daphne 8-At the Jimmys Bar Django Reinhardt et L'Orchestre de "Jimmy"-radio. 9-Sweet Sue (Just You) 10-Appel Indirect QHCDF 11-Nuages (Version One) 12-Rythme Futur 13-Begin the Biguine 14-Blues 15-Cou-Cou 16-Indecision (Undecided) Alix Combelle et son Orchestre 17-Tel quel (En plein sur le nez!) 18-Deux Peids Gauches (Two left feet) 19-Joyeuse Fumee (Holy Smoke) 20-Tiger Rag 21-Quatre Tickets
CD2
Noel Chiboust et son Orchestre 1-Serenade D'Hiver 2-Le Sheik 3-Noel Blus 4-Margie 5-Bijou Hubert Rostaing - Aime Barelli et Leur Orchestre 6-Indécision 7-Oui, C'est ça QHCDF with Alix Cimbelle 8-Swing 41 9-Nuages (Version 2) 10-Pou Vous (Exactly Like You) 11-Fantaisie sur une Danse Norvegienne de Grieg 12-Vendredi 13 13-Leibesfreud 14-Mabel 15-Petits Mensonges (Little White Lies) 16-Les Yeux Nois (Dark Eyes) 17-Sweet Sue (Just You) 18-Swing de Paris 19-Oiseaux des Iles 20-All of Me Christian Wagner et son Orchestre 21-Pour Terminer 22-Pour Commencer

£16.00 plus post and packing

Go back

---