Django Reinhardt reissues question.

Dear Sigmund,

I cannot answer your question at all, but hope that this may provoke someone else to...

Transfering old 78s is something that seems more variable than the original quality of them. Sometimes getting a fine transfer, unfortunately, involves buying the same recording in different transfers two or three times.

Over the years I have found good reliable companies like Pearl, and Testamant (and EMI of course), who consistently make a fine job, and keep the music, though as you say some issues are simply over filtered to get a smooth sound, even though the original shellac would never have been that strangled sonically, even on an accoustic 78 gramophone!

All the best from Fredrik

Yes, I agree, Fredrick. I myself have collected multiple versions of records just to have lifelike reproduction.

I do hope that Django fans out there reply with their recommendations for best sonics.

Best regards.

sigmund,

i have an old django reinhardt box (7 or 8 LPs) and am sorry to tell you it sounds worse than bad.




regards, +blackforest.

sigmund -

have you by the way seen "the sweet and lodown" by woody allen starring sean penn? great django reinhardt movie!

regards, +bf

There is a really good group who play in Sheffield called 'Djangoism', really worth seeing. They have an album available from their website, which also has some tracks to download. The leader of the group is a guatarist called Chez Sheridan who plays with Richard Hawley and co-wrote one of the songs on 'Coles Corner'. They comprise of accoustic rhythm, accoustic bass, accoustic lead, soprano sax and drum(s). Highly recommended, if you input djangoism into google it does list the site. Tell me what you think?

quote:

Originally posted by woodface:
There is a really good group who play in Sheffield called 'Djangoism', really worth seeing. They have an album available from their website, which also has some tracks to download. The leader of the group is a guatarist called Chez Sheridan who plays with Richard Hawley and co-wrote one of the songs on 'Coles Corner'. They comprise of accoustic rhythm, accoustic bass, accoustic lead, soprano sax and drum(s). Highly recommended, if you input djangoism into google it does list the site. Tell me what you think?

I realise this is continuing in a bit of a lateral direction...

But, in addition to Woodface's recommendation, may I encourage you to see Bireli Lagrene if you ever get the opportunity.

As a student I got to see him at the Sheffield Leadmill in 1983, in a group with Babik Reinhardt, Django's son, in a tour to mark the 50th anniversary of Django's death.

He was pretty remarkable then, aged 17 or even 16; he comes from an Alsace gypsy heritage and (like Django) has been playing since childhood.

I remember him as being very, very accomplished even then - e.g. he went on to play Carnegie Hall before the age of 20.

His present group is called 'Gipsy Project'. And his style has very much developed beyond 'imitation is the best form of flattery'.

This link will take you to his site, including audio clips.

http://www.lagrene.com/

James

I will definitley check this guy out. Unfortunately the sound quality isues to marr the enjoyment of original Django. Chez Sheriden(thinking about it it may even be Shez?) is a really incredible guitar player but he is a professional session musician so hardly surprising.

I have recently acquired a copy of this, which comes VERY highly recommended to Django fans who want the swing with modern recording technology and some stunning playing:



Grapelli, 71 when this recording was made, is inspired and in fine form. It's available via Amazon UK although it takes some finding. I bought mine that way so I can probably provide a link if anyone's interested. Think it was £8.

EW