Django Reinhardt - The Chronological Classics: 1940 (1995)

Tracklist

01. Rosetta (2:30)
02. Sugar (2:42)
03. A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody (2:39)
04. Margie (2:17)
05. Tears (2:50)
06. Limehouse Blues (2:30)
07. Daphne (2:53)
08. At the Jimmy's Bar (2:53)
09. Nuages (3:21)
10. Rythme futur (2:42)
11. Begin the Beguine (2:56)
12. Blues (3:10)
13. Coucou (2:43)
14. Indecision (3:06)
15. Serenade d'hiver (2:43)
16. Le sheik (2:20)
17. Noel Blues (3:01)
18. Margie (2:22)
19. Bijou (2:27)
20. Indecision (3:22)
21. Oui, c'est ca (2:39)

For fans mostly enamored with Reinhardt and Grappelli's vintage Quintet of the Hot Club of France (QHCF) sides from the '30s, this collection of 1940 recordings might not the best disc to get. Reinhardt completists, however, will certainly find plenty here to admire. The start of The War had broken up the original QHCF, as Grappelli opted to pursue a career on England's relatively safe shores and Reinhardt went solo in Paris. This Classics disc finds a Grappelli-less Reinhardt with a new incarnation of the Quintet, plus several cuts where the guitarist is featured in groups led by such other French musical luminaries as trumpeter Hubert Rostaing and tenor saxophonist Noel Chiboust. Reinhardt regulars like trumpeter Philippe Brun and reed player Alix Combelle also make fine solo contributions to this set of both hot swingers and dance band smoothies. Unessential, but enjoyable all the same.~ Stephen Cook