Born in Liberchies, Pont-à-Celles, Belgium into a family of Manouche Gypsies, Jean Reinhardt learned to play several instruments such as the banjo, violin and guitar from an early age; he spent most of his youth in Gypsy encampments close to Paris. His family made a living from crafting furniture, but included several amateur musicians who inspired Reinhardt. Eventually, Reinhardt was given a banjo-guitar, at which point he stopped playing the violin. During this period, he was inspired by two older Gypsy musicians, Gusti Mahla and Jean Castro. Able to make a living from his music from his teen years onwards playing in bal-musette halls in Paris, Reinhardt received little formal education until his adult life; he was taught the rudiments of literacy by fellow band member Stéphane Grappelli.
At the age of eighteen, Reinhardt was injured in a fire that ravaged the caravan he shared with Florine "Bella" Mayer, his first wife. They were very poor, and to supplement their income Bella made imitation flowers out of celluloid and paper; consequently, their home was full of this highly inflammable material. Returning from a performance late one night, Django apparently knocked over a candle on his way to bed. While his family and neighbors were quick to pull him to safety, he received first- and second-degree burns over half his body. His right leg was paralyzed and the third and fourth fingers of his left hand were badly burnt. Doctors believed that he would never play guitar again and intended to amputate one of his legs. Reinhardt refused to have the surgery and left the hospital after a short time; he was able to walk within a year with the aid of a cane.
His brother Joseph Reinhardt, an accomplished guitarist himself, bought Django a new guitar. With painful rehabilitation and practice, Reinhardt relearned his craft in a completely new way, even as his third and fourth fingers remained partially paralyzed. Hence, he played all of his guitar solos with only two fingers, and managed to use the two injured digits only for chord work. After regaining his ability to play, Reinhardt resumed his career playing Parisian cafes. According to one story, during his period of recovery, Reinhardt was introduced to the aesthetics of American jazz when he purchased a 78rpm disc of "Dallas Blues" by Louis Armstrong at an Orléans flea market.
In 1934, Reinhardt and Parisian violinist Stéphane Grappelli were approached by hot club chief Pierre Nourry with the idea of forming a forming a new hot club group. Thus, the Quintette du Hot Club de France was formed, with Reinhardt's brother Joseph and Roger Chaput on guitar, and Louis Vola on double bass. Occasionally, Chaput was replaced by Reinhardt's best friend and fellow Gypsy Pierre "Baro" Ferret. As the group had no true percussion section, percussion was instead provided by the group's guitarists; the Quintette du Hot Club de France thus became one of the few well-known jazz ensembles composed only of string instruments.
Jean Sablon was the first singer to record with the Quintette, resulting in more than thirty collaborations from 1933 onwards. Vocalist Freddy Taylor participated on a few songs, such as "Georgia on My Mind" and "Nagasaki". A long line of recordings for Decca, HMV and Ultraphone ensured long-lasting international success for the Quintette.
As a composer, Reinhardt wrote several influential, highly original tunes recorded by the Quintette, ranging from the dulcet ballads "Daphne", "Nuages", and "Manoir de mes rêves", to mad swingers such as "Minor Swing" and the ode to his record label of the 1930s, "Stomping at Decca". With the passing of time, many of his songs became jazz standards in their own right.
Reinhardt also experimented with recordings outside the "comfort zone" of the Quintette; in March 1933 Reinhardt recorded two takes each of "Parce que je vous aime" and "Si, j'aime Suzy", vocal numbers with lots of guitar fills and great guitar support, using three guitarists along with an accordion lead, violin, and bass. In August of the following year, recordings were also made with more than one guitar (Joseph Reinhardt, Roger Chaput, and Django), including the first recording by the Quintette. In both years, it should be noted, the great majority of recordings featured a wide variety of horns, often in multiples, piano, etc.
Throughout his career, Reinhardt played and recorded with many American jazz legends such as Benny Carter, Coleman Hawkins, Rex Stewart (who later stayed in Paris), and a led a jam-session and radio performance with Louis Armstrong. Later in his career, he performed with Dizzy Gillespie in France.
The outbreak of war in 1939 broke up the Quintette, with Grappelli remaining in London where the group was playing and Reinhardt returning to France. During the war years he led a big band, another quintet with clarinettist Hubert Rostaing in place of Grappelli, and after the liberation of Paris, recorded with such visiting American jazz artists as Mel Powell, Peanuts Hucko, and Ray McKinley. In 1946, Reinhardt took up the electric guitar and toured America as a soloist with the Duke Ellington Band, but his appearances were poorly received.
Some of his recordings on electric guitar late in his life are bop escapades where his playing sounds frantic and jagged, a world apart from the jubilant swing of old. However, starting in January 1946, Reinhardt and Grappelli held several sporadic reunions where the bop influences were more subtly integrated into the old swing format of the glory days of the Quintette. In the 1950s, Reinhardt became more reclusive, remaining in Europe, playing and recording sporadically until his death from a stroke on 16 May 1953 in Fontainebleau, France.
Sweet Georgia Brown
Django Reinhardt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Could be the same
As Sweet Georgia Brown.
Crazy feet that dance so neat
Has sweet Georgia Brown.
Fella's sigh, and even cry
For sweet Georgia Brown.
I tell you just why
It's been said
She knocks them dead
In any old town.
Since she came right
It's a shame
How she brings them down.
The lyrics to Django Reinhardt's "Sweet Georgia Brown" describe the irresistible allure of the titular character. The singer asserts that no other woman could compare to her. She is known for her impeccable dancing skills and has men sighing and crying over her. The singer insists that he's not lying and claims that it's been said that Sweet Georgia Brown knocks people dead in any town she visits. The song speaks to the deep longing that Sweet Georgia Brown evokes in those who encounter her.
The lyrics paint a vivid picture of this charismatic and captivating woman. Her presence is so powerful that it commands the attention of everyone around her. The phrase "knocks them dead" suggests that people are so enamored with her that they are rendered speechless. The song also touches on the jealousy and envy that Sweet Georgia Brown's presence can inspire, as the line "it's a shame how she brings them down" suggests that some are reluctant to see others lavishing attention on her.
Line by Line Meaning
Well let me tell you well no chick made
I must say that no other woman compares
Could be the same
To Sweet Georgia Brown's unique charm
As Sweet Georgia Brown.
Crazy feet that dance so neat
Her skilled feet move exquisitely
Has sweet Georgia Brown.
Fella's sigh, and even cry
Men swoon and even weep with desire
For sweet Georgia Brown.
I tell you just why
Allow me to explain
You know I don't lie.
It's been said
Rumors have circulated
She knocks them dead
She leaves a lasting impression
In any old town.
Since she came right
Ever since her arrival
It's a shame
It's unfortunate
How she brings them down.
How she captivates them completely.
Lyrics © BRASSWORKS MUSIC
Written by: MAX LODERBAUER, PAULA SCHOPF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@coleorum
I have listened to this solo hundreds of times and it still keeps getting better. He was beyond extraordinary.
@user-cx5pl2tu2h
That Bass has me boppin'. 😅 Extraordinary talented musicians. The "Swing" generation were extremely fortunate to have enjoyed such talent. ❤
@jimbobcarter8891
I never get tired to hear this guy he perform with virtuosity, a World Cultural Heritage.
@stellabloo
Django Reinhardt is only the greatest guitarist known to man before the 60s and a man who pushed on against all odds - he suffered burns all over his body including loss of 2 fingers in his fretting hand but came back to play like a jazz angel ;.)
@TerryTomlin
The greatest acoustic guitarist EVER.
@butfulmuzik
Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grapelli. And some people say their is no such thing as magic? Just listen to them, the magic is all around you. Two of the VERY best musicians, bar none.
@bertevans6601
One of his very best solos here. So inventive
@LinzyMcMurter
Just sort of takes your mind on a journey... Such an incredible musician
@rockinredneck57
How can 16 people NOT like this? This is beautiful and amazing music. Messrs Reinhardt and Grapelli were in a league of their own! Bravo!!
@davidwalker5054
All the modern gypsy jazz guitarists are technically brilliant guitarists but i think they overkill with speed you soon get bored but django knew when to hold back and when to put a lightning fast flurry of notes in. He always held your intrest someone once said django is the best storyteller iv'e ever heard on a guitar. i agree