Gypsy Jazz History and Bios

Bonnie Christensen - Django: World's Greatest Jazz Guitarist (Hardcover)

In this carefully researched biography, rich with details from interviews with family members, friends and musicians, Dregni, a writer for Vintage Guitar magazine, brings legendary Gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt (1910–1953) into the spotlight.

Stephane Grappelli, or The Violin with Wings, a profile by Raymond Horricks, and selected discography by Tony Middleton. Hardback, first edition 1983, published by Midas Books, Tunbridge Wells and Hippocrene Books, New York, 134 pages with black and white photographs.

Book/CD pack. Leading jazzwriter Dave Gelly considers Djangos life and recordings and explains exactly why he sounded the way he did. Meanwhile, guitarist and teacher Rod Fogg shows you how you can achieve that sound with detailed transcriptions of six celebrated numbers: "Djangology," "Sweet Chorus," "Bouncin Around," "Minor Swing," "Honeysuckle Rose" and "Nuages."

This riveting book by Paul Balmer is the definitive biography of a unique musician whose life spanned the 20th century. Stephane Grappelli’s astonishing career ran on a parallel track to the history of Jazz itself. Born in Paris in 1908 Grappelli was to become a member of the greatest European Jazz band of them all - the pre-war Hot Club de France Quintet - playing Violin alongside gypsy Guitar legend Django Reinhardt. Tat dazzling association with Reinhardt may have brought Grappelli his greatest fame, but his prodigious talent was also to give him a long and varied career in music playing with everyone from Duke Ellington and Joe Venuti to George Shearing and Oscar Peterson. This rich and revealing biography takes its place alongside the author’s BAFTA-nominated DVD about Grappelli, an exceptional musician whose fascinating personal story also vividly illuminates the history of American Jazz in Europe.

Django Reinhardt and the Illustrated History of Gypsy Jazz is a stylish collection of more than two hundred illustrations telling Django’s story and the history of Gypsy jazz. Running through the Paris Jazz Age of the 1920s to the current worldwide renaissance of Gypsy jazz bands (including Django’s grandsons, who are playing today), the images include rare archival photographs, modern images, posters, programs, tickets, guitars, memorabilia, paintings, and more.

Blending travelogue, detective story, and personal narrative, Gypsy Jazz is music history at its best, capturing the history and culture of this elusive music--and the soul that makes it swing.

Benjamin Givan - The Music of Django Reinhardt

Django Biography in Italian. Includes transcriptions, musical analysis and an excellent discography. 198p.

The classic 300 page Reinhardt biography by Charles Delaunay. Published by Hal Leonard

Blending travelogue, detective story, and personal narrative, Gypsy Jazz is music history at its best, capturing the history and culture of this elusive music--and the soul that makes it swing.

A wonderful coffee table style biography of the legendary Argentinian guitarist. Rich in detail and full of rare photos. In three languages: Spanish, English, and French.