Category Archives: jazz

Stuff Smith – You’se A Viper

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Hezekiah Leroy Gordon Smith (1909-1967)

Hezekiah Leroy Gordon Smith, best known as Stuff Smith was an American jazz violinist. Stuff Smith was one of the great jazz violinists of the swing era (along with Stephane Grappelli, Eddie South, Svend Asmussen, and Joe Venuti). During his career, Stuff Smith worked with several great jazz musicians including Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker, and Coleman Hawkins. Stuff Smith, like Louis Armstrong was a vocalist as well as an instrumentalist. It was Louis Armstrong who inspired and influenced Stuff Smith to play jazz.

One of the songs that Stuff Smith was well known for is “You’se A Viper.” Here is a recording of that song with Stuff Smith singing and playing the violin. Enjoy!

Angelo Debarre and Ludovic Beier – Troublant Bolero

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Troublant Bolero is a tune by Django Reinhardt.  He first recorded the tune in 1948.

Here is a recording of Troublant Bolero palyed by the Romani “gypsy jazz” guitarist Angelo Debarre, and “gypsy jazz” accordion virtuoso Ludovic Beier.

“Gypsy jazz” is a style of jazz that is believed to be invented by the Romani guitarist Django Reinhardt in the 1930s.  It combines dark, chromatic gypsy sounds with swing.

Quintet of the Hot Club of France – After You’ve Gone

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The Quintet of the Hot Club of France

The Quintet of the Hot Club of France was a string jazz group made up of three guitars, a violin, and a bass.  It was originally formed in 1934 after a series of informal backstage jam sessions. The quintet was a unique jazz group because it was made up of an interesting combination of instruments and it invented a style of jazz known as “gypsy jazz” or “hot jazz.”  Over the years the quintet went through many different rhythm guitarists and bass players but the two main players (Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli) remained the same.  From 1934 until the beginning of the war in 1939 the quintet made hundreds of recordings and toured Europe many times.  The quintet was disbanded in 1939.  In 1946 Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt teamed up together again and formed another quintet.  This post-war quintet lasted from 1946 until 1948.

Here is a recording of the jazz standard “After You’ve Gone” performed by the Quintet of the Hot Club of France.  The singer in the recording is Freddy Taylor.

Minor Swing – Ludovic Beier (accordion), Angelo Debarre (guitar)

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Minor Swing is a popular “gypsy jazz” tune by Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli. It was first recorded by Grappelli, Reinhardt, and the Quintet of the Hot Club of France in 1937.

Here is a recording of Minor Swing by Ludovic Beier (a “gypsy jazz” accordion virtuoso), and Angelo Debarre (a Romani “gypsy jazz” guitarist). Enjoy!

Luiz Bonfa – Manha de Carnaval – The Rosenberg Trio

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Luiz Bonfa (1922-2001)

Luiz Bonfa was a Brazilian guitarist and composer.  He is known for the music he wrote for the film Black Orpheus.  He helped to bring Brazilian music to the world stage.

Here is a composition called Manha de Carnaval.  It is a bossa nova (a lyrical fusion of a samba and jazz).  Bossa novas were developed and popularized in the 1950s and 1960s.   It is played by the Rosenberg Trio (a solo guitar, rhythm guitar, and string bass).  Enjoy!

The Quintet of the Hot Club of France – The Sheik of Araby

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The Quintet of the Hot Club of France

The Quintet of the Hot Club of France was a string jazz group made up of three guitars, a violin, and a bass.  It was originally formed in 1934 after a series of informal backstage jam sessions. The quintet was a unique jazz group because it was made up of an interesting combination of instruments and it invented a style of jazz known as “gypsy jazz” or “hot jazz.”  Over the years the quintet went through many different rhythm guitarists and bass players but the two main players (Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli) remained the same.  From 1934 until the beginning of the war in 1939 the quintet made hundreds of recordings and toured Europe many times.  The quintet was disbanded in 1939.  In 1946 Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt teamed up together again and formed another quintet.  This post-war quintet lasted from 1946 until 1948.

Here is a recording done by the Quintet of the Hot Club of France in 1937 of a jazz standard called the “Sheik of Araby.”  Enjoy!

Paginini’s Thing | Dick Wellstood | Stride Piano Masterpiece

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Dick Wellstood (1927-1987)

Dick Wellstood was an American jazz pianist.  He was one of the great stride pianists.  Wellstood had a real knack for taking just about any jazz tune or classical tune and turning it into a really exciting stride piano piece.  Here he takes a well known piece for violin called the Caprice no. 24 in a minor by Niccolo Paganini and turns it into a stride piano piece.  If you aren’t familiar with the original version of the piece on the violin, I suggest that you listen to that before you listen to Dick Wellstood’s version.  If you understand what the original piece sounds like you will appreciate the stride piano version of the piece more.  Enjoy!

 

 

Charlie Parker with Strings

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Charlie Parker (1920-1955)

A jazz saxophonist, famous as one of the founders of “bebop.”  Parker usually performed bebop with a small quintet.  Charlie Parker also recorded jazz standards with a small section of stringed instruments and a jazz rhythm section instead of his standard quintet.  Parker said that his favourite recordings were the ones he made with strings.

Here is a recording of the jazz standard “April in Paris” played by Charlie Parker on saxophone. He is accompanied by a small group of stringed instruments and a jazz rhythm section.  Parker’s playing here is more subdued than usual and you can hear the melody.  A real bonus!

Teddy Wilson – School for Pianists (10 solo piano recordings)

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Teddy Wilson (1912-1986)

Teddy Wilson was an American jazz pianist.  His playing was known for its elegance and grace.  Teddy worked with many of the great jazz musicians including Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Lena Horne, Billy Holiday, and Ella Fitzgerald.  He worked a lot for various jazz bands but also led his own groups from the 1920s until the 1980s.  Teddy Wilson was one of the first black musicians to appear prominently with white musicians.  Teddy Wilson was one of the great pianists of the swing jazz era.

Here is an audio recording of Teddy Wilson playing some jazz standards.  Enjoy!

Django Reinhardt & Eddie South – Somebody Loves Me – Paris, 23.11.1937

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Eddie South (1904-1962) was a black American jazz violinist.  He has been referred to as the “Black Angel” of the violin.  Eddie was a child prodigy who was trained as a classical violinist.  He later switched to jazz violin because there were more opportunities for black musicians in jazz than in classical music.

In the 1920s Eddie visited Europe and was influenced by Hungarian folk music and gypsy music that he heard.  He later incorporated Hungarian music and gypsy music into his style of playing.

In the 1930s Eddie performed and made recordings with guitarist Django Reinhardt and violinist Stephane Grappelli of the Quintet of the Hot Club of France.

Here is a recording of Eddie South and Django Reinhardt playing “Somebody Loves Me.”  The recording was made in Paris in 1937.

Eddie South (violin) and Django Reinhardt (guitar) :

You can find mp3 recordings of Django Reinhardt and Eddie South on the website http://www.Amazon.com. The piece ‘Somebody Loves Me’ is also on the cd Classics and Rarities: Django Reinhardt which can also be found on http://www.Amazon.com.