This is the first of Stephane Grappelli's sessions as a leader during the 1950s to be issued on CD, which is rather surprising given the availability of his work from the last two decades of his life. Grappelli is heard exclusively in a quartet with pianist Maurice Vander, bassist Pierre Michelot, and drummer Baptiste Reilles, except for two takes of "Someone to Watch Over Me," when Vander makes an ill-advised switch to harpsichord. The violinist is not nearly as aggressive as he would become in the decades to follow, seemingly concentrating more on achieving a beautiful tone than dazzling listeners with his considerable abilities as an improviser. Most of the material recorded during these three dates remained in his repertoire for the remainder of his career; with up-tempo selections like "The Lady Is a Tramp" and "'S Wonderful" getting the nod over most of the ballad interpretations…

American guitarist Frank Vignola fronts this contemporized version of the classic Django Reinhardt-Stephane Grappelli combo, joined by 58-year-old Uruguayan violinist Federico Britos, second guitarist Eric Bogart and bassist Phil Flanagan. They swing through several of the original Hot Club's classics, American popular standards, and a couple of unexpected asides. Of the repertoire joined at the hip to Reinhardt and Grappelli, the well-swung "Djangology" shows Vignola as a mad hatter with triple time and twiddling phraseology, even at slower tempos. The gypsy anthem "Dark Eyes" has the two guitarists rumbling in flamenco style, Britos soloing all alone before Vignola wrests the swing away from him. Vignola is a furious demon of strummed chords, churning up a storm during the bookended selections "I Found a New Baby" and the hot, hot, hot "Stompin' at Decca"…

Genius of gypsy style guitar playing Django Reinhardtand the violinist Stephane Grappelli made joyful music which truly swung and Grappelli went on to enjoy a long and distinguished career stretching over sixty years in a wide variety of musical settings. The Quintette itself became popular in London before the war and Grappelli decided to stay, recording with his Hot Four, with Hatchett’s Swingtette, named after the famous nightclub, with full orchestra and later with Sir Yehudi Menuhin, the classical violinist. This album includes several favourite compositions "I Found A New Baby", "Alabamy Bound", "Viper's Dream", "Dinah", "I Saw Stars" and "Body & Soul".

Stephane Grappelli and guitarist Diz Disley lead this elegant Hot Club session from 1975. Nice variety of compositions without ever leaving the style.
For twenty years Stephane Grappelli resisted repeated attempts to reconstitute the old Quintette - resisted because there was only one Django, could never be another, and the Quintette without Django would be at least as unthinkable as the Venuti Blue Four without Eddie Lang. Finally it was the persistence and perception of a Canadian-born graphic artist and acoustic guitarist Diz Disley, that persuaded Stephane to revive the two guitars/string bass rhythm section. Since then, Stephane Grappelli and the Diz Disley Trio have been playing mostly to packed houses in Britain, Europe, America and Australia and building a huge following for their special sound.

The last years of his life marks a total renewal of the music of Django Reinhardt. The reopening of the Club Saint Germain, in February 1951, and the rapprochement with the new wave of French jazz (saxophonist Hubert Fol head) inaugurate a new creative period in the career of guitarist, rich in metamorphoses. A personal journey continued for several years, including the revolution bebop, combined with the talent of a new generation of musicians (pianists Raymond Fol, Maurice Vander, Martial Solal, bassist Pierre Michelot…), leads to a flamboyant work. New sounds marked by the opulence of the electric guitar. New melodies (Nights of Saint-Germain des Pres, Golden Arrow, Anouman…) and new (s) form (s) Instrumental (s), responding to the canons of modern jazz.Bringing together all the studio sessions and live recordings known this period, fully remastered, this 3CD box set offers the ultimate fulfillment of the route of the great Gypsy.

Violinists Stéphane Grappelli and Stuff Smith performed together on a few occasions, but this 1965 studio session, first issued by Barclay, was one of the more difficult dates to acquire until Universal Music reissued it on CD in 2002, as a part of their extensive Jazz in Paris series. With a solid rhythm section (pianist René Urtreger, bassist Michel Gaudry, and drummer Michel Delaporte) that pretty much sticks to a supporting role, it is clear that Smith's gritty tone rubs off on Grappelli as the session progresses. Highlights include Smith's "Blues in the Dungeon" (during which Grappelli playfully alternates between playing pizzicato and arco to back Smith's hoarse but swinging vocal) and an equally playful, swinging take of "This Can't Be Love"…

Django Reinhardt is exclusively a sideman in this compilation of recordings made with various French bands and singers during the 1930s. The instrumental tracks are okay, especially those with violinist Michel Warlop's orchestra, even if Warlop is no match for Stéphane Grappelli. The final two instrumental tracks by Wal-Berg & Son are a mystery, as Django is not among the credited musicians. The vocal tracks are another matter. Nina Rette's vocals, dominated by her bird-like vibrato, mar her work with Reinhardt and Grappelli. Reinhardt isn't even listed in the session by singer Andre Pasdoc (if he isn't present, why is it included?); no matter, as this pair of songs deserve to remain obscure. No better are the tracks by long forgotten singers Yvonne Louis or Micheline Day…

Jazz in Paris: Swing 48 collects some of Django Reinhardt's best electric guitar performances from the late '40s, including "Pêche à la Mouche," "Minor Blues," "Night and Day," and "Swing 48." These lively numbers are balanced with quieter but no less inventive tracks such as "For Sentimental Reasons" and "I'm Confessin' (That I Love You)." Two takes on "Blues for Barclay" round out this compact collection, which may not be as thorough an exploration of this part of Reinhardt's career as Peche à la Mouche, but still offers a taste of his electric, bop-influenced years.

Paris was the place to be before and after WWII, and Jazz in Paris captures some of those immortal moments such as Django's Blues. This is a wonderful introdution to the great guitarist as he plays some classic pieces such as Septermber Song, Brazil and Blues Primitif. The disc is divided into two performances at the Le Quintette de Hot Club in 1947, with his brother Joseph joining him on the second set on rhythm guitar. The series is beautifully packaged and you will love checking out the many other titles such as Django and Company, which includes Stephane Grappelli.

Stephane Grappelli Live at the Blue Note with Bucky Pizzarelli, John Pizzarelli and Jon Burr. Stephane Grappelli was one of the masters of the jazz violin. In this wonderful Telarc recording one can witness the master's playfulness, charm and talent as he plays before an appreciative and polite audience.

Wawau Adler calls his new album "I Play With You." He changes playfully between the Selmer No. 828, a classical guitar from the forties, over modern types to the electric guitar. Finally, the title could also refer to the repertoire that is played here: After Adler has interpreted in his earlier recordings mainly standards - his last album "Happy Birthday Django 110", released two years ago, was, for example, explicitly dedicated to his and the great role model of all gypsy jazz guitarists Django Reinhardt. With his own songs you can get to know the whole Wawau Adler on "I Play With You".

The ECM debut of Ferenc Snétberger features the widely-acclaimed Hungarian guitarist in solo performance before a rapt audience at the Liszt Academy in Budapest . Snétberger’s richly improvisational eight-part suite - entitled “Budapest”- subtly draws upon influences from Brazilian music and flamenco, from jazz and classical tradition, as well as his own gypsy background. As an encore, he plays the Harold Arlen standard “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”.

At the age of 85 Stephane Grappelli was still a master of the violin, as proven during this 1993 concert at Carnegie Hall in honor of his landmark birthday (which he had celebrated the previous January 26th). With bassist Jon Burr and guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, Grappelli revisits a number of old favorites, including a lively take of "All God's Chillun Got Rhythm," an easygoing "Honeysuckle Rose," and a gently swinging "Limehouse Blues." There are no surprises, just great music from the master. Several tracks feature the Rosenberg Trio (in their American recording debut), a fine Gypsy trio (2 guitars and a bass) that Grappelli first heard at the 1991 Montreal Jazz Festival and invited to join him on stage. All six men take part in the enjoyable finale of "Sweet Georgia Brown."