Reinhardt, Django << RYN hahrt, JANG goh >> (1910-1953), a jazz guitarist, was the first important European-born jazz musician. Reinhardt came from a Romani (Gypsy) background and incorporated traditional Romani themes into his music. Reinhardt lost the use of two fingers on his left hand in a fire in 1928. The accident led him to develop a personal fingering technique. In spite of his injury, Reinhardt became equally accomplished as a technically brilliant soloist and as a sensitive accompanist.
Jean Baptiste (Django) Reinhardt was born on Jan. 23, 1910, in a Romani caravan in Liberchies, Belgium, near Charleroi. He taught himself to play the acoustic guitar when he was 12. Reinhardt played in Paris nightclubs before forming a quintet with violinist Stephane Grappelli in 1934. The combo soon became internationally famous as the Quintet of the Hot Club of France. The group recorded more than 150 numbers, many of them jazz classics, before it broke up in 1939. Reinhardt composed several songs for the quintet that became jazz standards, including “Nuages,” “Djangology,” and “Bolero.” Reinhardt took up the electric guitar in the 1940’s. He remained active, recording and playing concerts, until his death. He died on May 16, 1953.
