Jazz Waltzes

Christopher · January 2005

All the contemporary gypsy jazz players play waltzes. Django wrote a few, including Montagne Ste Geneviève and Chez Jazquet. But I have been unable to find a recording by Django of these compositions? Does anyone know if Django recorded his waltz tunes and where these recordings may be found?

ramsezaz · January 2005

On "Tziganskaïa and other rare recordings" from Matelo Ferret is written
"Including four previously unissued waltzes by Django Reinhardt"

This refers to : Montagne Sainte Geneviève, Gagoug, Chez Jacquet(à la petite chaumière) and Choti.

So i guess Django never recorded any of those

Ando · January 2005

Christopher, if you find them, let us know. :-)

Incidentally, Matelot's versions of "Gagoug" and "Choti" are unmetered rhapsodies. I've heard them recorded by Francis Alfred-Moerman (one of Sarane Ferret's protege's) in 3/4 with good results. Both approaches may reflect what Django might have been doing with them.

Also, there's some speculation that "Montagne" and "Chez Jacquet" are misnamed: the former is the latter, and the latter is really the former. I don't know how to fact-check this. Can anyone shed any more light?

Cheers,
Ando

ramsezaz · January 2005

I'll ask Serge Krief if he knows something about the swapping of names.
He took lessons with Matelo during 6 years, maybe he's heard something about that.

nwilkins · January 2005

Django never recorded those waltzes.

Ando · January 2005

I wonder, in this age of digital audio, if anyone has ever given serious thought to forging "The Lost Valses of Django Reinhardt." It might make a good crime novel (CD included!), if nothing else.

Cheers,
Ando

Jack · January 2005

Ando wrote:

there's some speculation that "Montagne" and "Chez Jacquet" are misnamed: the former is the latter, and the latter is really the former. I don't know how to fact-check this. Can anyone shed any more light?

Ando,
Out of curiosity, where did you pick up on the speculation? I hadn't heard this before.

Best,
Jack.

Cuimean · January 2005

Or a movie...with Ralph Macchio as a young classical guitar student who's led on a wild goose chase across France by an old gypsy who claims to know one of Django's lost waltzes and finally ends up fighting for his immortal soul in a guitar duel with, say, Jimmy Rosenberg.