Gypsy Jazz (History)

Gypsy jazz is an idiom that was pioneered in the 1930s by guitar legend Django reinhardt. Django was foremost among a group of guitarists working in and around Paris in the late 1920s and 30s.

One of the primary sources of employment for musicians in Paris at that time was in various popular Musette ensembles. The Musette style waltz remains an important component in the Gypsy jazz repertoire. Reinhardt combined a dark, chromatic Gypsy flavour with the swing articulation of the period to create a beautiful and original style of jazz. This development has come to be known as Gypsy jazz.

Django's genius for improvised melody was characterised by his Gypsy influences driven over his love for classical composition and the american jazz musicians of the day. This approach continues to form the basis for contemporary Gypsy jazz guitar. Reinhardt’s most famous group, the Quintette Du Hot Club De France, also brought fame to jazz violinist Stephane Grappelli.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

Gypsy jazz is thriving today, with fans and practitioners found all over the globe. The largest audiences and highest calibre of musicians are found in Europe, notably in and around the Gypsy camps in France and the Netherlands where the Manouche (French speaking) and Sinti (Dutch speaking) clans live.

Gypsy jazz, along with traditional Gypsy music, is learned by the passing down of knowledge from older generations. Many Gypsy musicians do not read notated music. It is more common for beginners to spend hours learning and memorizing songs from recordings and gleaning techniques from more experienced players.

In Gypsy jazz, guitar and violin are the main solo instruments, although clarinet and accordion are also common. The rhythm guitar is played using a distinct percussive technique, "la pompe", that essentially replaces the drums. An upright double bass fills out the ensembles. Although many instrumental lineups exist, a group including one lead guitar, violin, two rhythm guitars, and bass is often the norm.