Celebrating the Life & Legacy of Gypsy Jazz Guitarist, Django Reinhardt (b.1910 - d.1953). On January 23, 1910 in Liverchies, Belgium - the Gypsy Jazz King was born: Jean Baptiste "Django"(pronounced John-go and meaning "To Awake") Reinhardt. Django grew up in a Manouche gypsy camp and started playing guitar at age 10. Later, he moved on to an old-fashioned banjo-guitar and began playing Paris dancehalls before the age of 13. In 1928, his trailer caught fire and he was severely burned; two fingers on his left hand were seared together. Despite all odds, he was able to play guitar again as he invented a new chord technique to allow him to play with only 2 fingers. In 1930, painter Emile Savitry first introduced Django to Jazz - upon hearing jazz "he took his head in his hands and began to sob". Jazz and Django were meant for each other…the rest is history. An important influence on the likes of contemporary guitarists such as Les Paul, Charlie Christian, B.B. King, Jerry Garcia, and Chet Atkins, in 1971, Django was elected by critics for induction into the Down Beat Magazine Hall of Fame. Les Paul called Django "the greatest guitar player that ever lived." Reinhardt died May 16, 1953 of a massive brain hemorrhage.

Celebrating the birthday of Stephane Grapelli (Jan. 26, 1908 - Dec. 1, 1997). Most Django fans also know the name Stephane Grapelli because of his collaboration with Reinhardt in the Quintet of the Hot Club de France. Like Django, Grapelli was self-taught early on but later was trained as a classical musician first at the Isadora Duncan School and later at the Paris Conservatory. However at age 19 everything changed when he heard his 1st jazz recording by Lois Armstrong - "I discovered jazz and my vocation and kissed Amadeus good-bye." Always a musical adventurer, Grapelli is featured on the title cut of Pink Floyd's classic album "Wish You Were Here" released in 1975. Unlike Reinhardt, Stephane Grapelli lived a long life remaining active until shortly before his death in 1997. "Music keeps me going…it has given me everything."

FILM: Stephane Grappelli: "A Life in the Jazz Century": Universal Classics/128 min.

MUSIC BY: Mark Menikos/violin, Tom Reynolds/guitar, Paul Unger/bass, Andy Crisanti/clarinet

Information from the venue's website