Django Reinhardt best-of collections are fairly easy to come by, and if all you want is a nice, manageable assortment of instrumentals that show off his amazing technique, go for it: you've got a hefty selection of samplers to choose from.
Fremeaux & Associes' 20-volume, 40-disc
Integrale Django Reinhardt series, on the other hand, exists as a detailed chronological map of his recording activity over a quarter-century, including virtually all of his work as sideman and accompanist. Volume three focuses on nearly seven months out of the year 1935, a busy time for
Reinhardt. This portion of his discography is heavily sprinkled with vocals, some of which sound very French, like suave
Pierre Lord,
Nane Cholet, and her husband
Jean Tranchant, or the brother-sister team of
Jean & Germaine Sablon. More distinctly English/American-sounding vocals are credited to
Jerry Mengo (who sounds like young
Eddie Condon on "Sweet Sue"); elegant
Hildegarde Sell;
Bruce Boyce, whose theatrical delivery on "Run Mary/Didn't It Rain" suggests a bit of operatic training, and members of
Freddy Taylor's orchestra who faithfully intone most if not all of the words to "Swanee River," a minstrel song by
Stephen Foster published in 1851 as "The Old Folks at Home." Eight selections credited to
Patrick & His Orchestra are said to have been the last ever recorded by that short-lived big band which operated under the leadership of trombonist
Guy Paquinet. This delightful grab bag of Parisian jazz and pop is marbled through with excellent work by
Le Quintette du Hot Club de France, and satisfying contributions from saxophonists
Alix Combelle and
Frank "Big Boy" Goudie. ~ arwulf arwulf
