Larry Stops By For Django and a Beer

I love Django electrified

Django’s solo on this song (Peche a la mouche) is otherworldly. Eternal. This was recorded more than 60 years ago and you hear that in the band; a bit stilted and old-fashioned, then in comes Django’s solo that sounds like a time-traveler. Ahead of his time. I’m not sure any guitarist today could top him. As soon as Django went electric in the late '40s, I was in love.

[Didn't you buy that biography about him?]

Yeah, I did, but I haven't read it yet. It’s there on the bottom shelf with Gioia and Giddens. It has a yellow cover just like Vicious Dogs. Have you read my book yet?

[No, but one of these days. Linda read it and said it was great but then again she’s always been in love with you.]

That’s ridiculous.

[Don’t give me that. Usually you think every woman is in love with you and now you act like you don’t recognize how Linda always talks about you like you’re some kind a big deal? I mean it’s not like your book was published by Penguin or something. Like, how many copies did you even sell? A couple hundred? Wow Big time author. Watch out Stephen King!]

There’s no need to be an asshole Larry. I just wanted to play you some Django Reinhardt.

[Don’t get offended. I’m just telling it like it is. And you’re right. Django's out of this world.]

linda likes this photo i took of her

Albums That All Humans Should Own #9

I've never denied the fact that my jazz tastes peak in the late 1950s. I think a majority of jazz fans feel the same. How many books have been written about 1959 being the greatest year in jazz history? A lot of great music was made in the decades before and after, but if I had to pick only one decade of jazz to listen to until the end of my days, of course it would be the 1950s.

An example of a great album that I'd never listen to in that scenario, would be my next recommendation for Essential Album.

'Souvenirs de Django Reinhardt' by Django Reinhardt (1947) is my ninth pick of essential albums that all humans should own.

Man...Django can play! Anyone who is familiar with his music is rolling their eyes at the obviousness of my observation. Like saying water is wet. 

The thing that strikes me about this recording, beginning with the first track, Minor Swing, is how modern his playing sounds. He got incredible tone from that electric guitar and he sounds like he was loving this new toy he's been playing.

The story goes that he first played an electric guitar during his first visit to America in 1947, but wasn't terribly impressed with them, calling them "tin pots". Back in Europe, he had an electric bar pickup added to his Maccaferri, and that fantastic electric archtop sound is born.

I went on a tear last year after falling in love with this revelatory album and bought many of his recordings, but none of them reached me the way this did.

Maybe the gypsy jazz sound isn't for you. Listen, If that's the case, I urge you to put aside those preconceived notions and listen to this album. It will get into you. You are powerless to resist the vigor with which Django plays.