Django Reinhardt - Django on the Radio (CD)

This box collects most of the broadcast and concert recordings Django Reinhardt made in his last eight years, except the Rome sessions, available on JSP919. Reunions with Stephane Grappelli alternate with tryouts on the electric guitar and bebop. The post-war Django has lost none of his touch - the 1946 Duke Ellington concert was, on the evidence here, of a high standard. Django also emerges as a composer of stature, with a string of contemplative masterpieces. From the moment the Americans entered Paris during WW2, he was sought out. Visiting stars vied to play with him. He broadcast and recorded with the Air Transport Command big band - much of one disc is made up of radio transcripts with them. After the euphoria of the Liberation, however, work for Django was intermittent. One theme, though, was constant - a fortune awaited him in the US. He agreed to visit the US with Duke Ellington. Django just caught the last available US-bound boat with no baggage, no guitar. He believed that American guitar makers would compete to supply him with an instrument. They didn't. Eve so, everywhere the band went he was greeted as a hero. That can be detected in these live recordings. Django has got hold of an electric guitar, and is as skilful on it as he ever was. Ellington fields little more than a rhythm section - no more needed when the Frenchman is flying like this. When America tired of him, he took a ship back to France. Django quickly settled back into Parisian life. The material here sees him several times reunited with Grapelli and performing with a variety of European musicians. By 1953, engagements were again sporadic. Django was unwilling to perform for less than he thought he was worth. He had been raised to survive on next to nothing, so idleness was not the hardship that many would have found it. A somewhat raucous Tony Proteau session isn't a bad place to leave him. He was in his element with decent musicians and an appreciative audience.

Track List:

Disc: 1

1. Afn Title Sequence
2. Djangology
3. Honeysuckle Rose
4. Belleville
5. Uptown Blues
6. Moten Swing
7. Afn Closing Sequence
8. Belleville
9. Moten Swing
10. Don't Be That Way
11. Improvisation No. 6
12. Honeysuckle Rose
13. Uptown Blues
14. Djangology
15. Are You in the Mood?
16. Apple Honey
17. Ride Red Ride
18. Blues Riff
19. Improvisation No. 5
20. Honeysuckle Rose

Disc: 2

1. Swing Guitars
2. Babik
3. Blues en Mineur
4. This Kind of Friend
5. Nuages
6. Viper's Dream
7. Blues Clair
8. Minor Swing
9. Swing 41
10. Swing 39
11. Del Salle
12. Les Yeux Noirs
13. Louise
14. Reverie
15. Swingtime in Springtime
16. Stockholm
17. Feerie
18. Vendredi 13
19. Sweet Chorus
20. Crepescule
21. Songe D'automne
22. I Love You for Sentimental Reasons

Disc: 3

1. Just One of Those Things
2. Billets Doux
3. Porto Cabello
4. Swing Dynamique
5. Lover Man
6. Rythm Futur
7. Artillerie Lourde
8. Peche a la Mouche
9. Belleville
10. Souce Ambiance
11. Swing de Paris
12. I Can't Give You Anything But Love
13. It Had to Be You
14. September Song
15. Manoir de Mes Reves
16. Melodie Au Crepescule
17. Dinette
18. Folie a Amphion
19. Place de Brouckere
20. Symphonie
21. Improvisation Sur la Danse Norwegienne
22. St Louis Blues

Disc: 4

1. Ol' Man River
2. R-Vingt-Six
3. How High the Moon
4. Swing Guitars
5. I Love You
6. Tiger Rag
7. Tears
8. Dinah
9. Them There Eyes
10. Daphne
11. How High the Moon
12. Manoir de Mes Reves
13. Danse Nuptiale
14. Crazy Rhythm
15. Improvisation No. 5
16. Moppin' the Bride
17. Troublant Bolero
18. Cadillac Slim
19. Nuages
20. Improvisation Sur Un Theme Mineur

Disc: 5

1. Improvisation Sur Une Danse Norwegienne
2. Festival 48
3. Minor Swing
4. Symphonie
5. Troublant Bolero
6. Lover
7. Nuages
8. Impromptu
9. Margie
10. Diminushing Blackness
11. Dream of You
12. Manoir de Mes Reves
13. Jumpin' with Symphony Sid
14. I Can't Give You Anything But Love
15. Yesterdays
16. Lover
17. Blues
18. Time After Time
19. Blues
20. Jam Session (Fine and Dandy)