This gorgeously packaged three-disc box set collects a range of guitar genius Django Reinhardt's work from the pre- and post-war periods.
The first disc consists almost exclusively of the recordings he made with the original Quintette du Hot Club de France between 1934 and 1940. These are some of Reinhardt's most enduring sides, and include classics like "Minor Swing," "Sweet Georgia Brown," and "Swing 39," with plenty of chugging rhythmic intensity from the drumless ensemble and showers of dazzling leads from violinist Stephane Grappelli.
The second disc, which covers '40 through '47, mixes Quintette du Hot Club dates with some of the artist's other sessions--including big-band recordings--on a range of standards ("Embraceable You") and originals (the beautiful "Nuages").
The third disc spans '47 through '53, and finds Reinhardt moving away somewhat from his "gypsy jazz" and more toward a mainstream swing sound. The thread through the entire set, naturally, is the virtuosity of Reinhardt's playing, the speed and grace of his lines, and the poetry of his expression.
01. Dinah (2:40)
02. Sweet Sue (2:58)
03. Blue Drag (2:55)
04. Limehouse Blues (2:47)
05. Charleston (2:55)
06. The Sheik of Araby (3:10)
07. St. Louis Blues (2:48)
08. Minor Swing (3:20)
09. My Serenade (3:05)
10. Night and Day (2:43)
11. Sweet Georgia Brown (3:09)
12. Honeysuckle Rose (2:56)
13. Black and White (3:06)
14. Appel Indirect (Appel Direct) (3:02)
15. Improvisation Nr 2 (2:44)
16. Swing 39 (3:20)
17. I'll See You In My Dreams (2:37)
18. H.C.Q. Strut (2:59)
19. Rythme Futur (2:40)
CD 2: 1940 - 1947
01. Les Yeux Noirs (2:18)
02. All Of Me (2:50)
03. Swing 42 (2:50)
04. Blues En Mineur (2:51)
05. Douce Ambiance (2:22)
06. Manoir De Mes Reves (3:20)
07. Blues Clair (3:07)
08. I Can't Give You Anything But Love (2:26)
09. Echos De France (La Marseillaise) (2:48)
10. Embraceable You (3:16)
11. Django's Tiger (2:41)
12. Melodie Au Crepuscule (3:13)
13. Nuages (Take 2) (3:21)
14. How High The Moon (2:36)
15. Just One Of Those Things (2:55)
16. Songe d'Automne (3:02)
17. Vette (3:17)
18. Danse Norvegienne (3:04)
19. Django's Dream (Reverie) (3:49)
CD 3: 1947 - 1953
01. Topsy (3:09)
02. Dinette (3:04)
03. Belleville (2:37)
04. Si Tu Savais (2:44)
05. Ol' Man River (2:39)
06. Tears (3:45)
07. Tiger Rag (2:58)
08. Minor Swing (2:39)
09. La Mer (4:25)
10. Bricktop (3:45)
11. Ou Es-Tu Mon Amour (3:23)
12. Daphne (2:29)
13. Djangology (2:50)
14. Place De Brouckere (3:17)
15. Nuits De Saint Germain Des Pres (3:07)
16. Troublant Bolero (3:32)
17. Anouman (2:47)
18. Brazil (2:28)
19. (I'm) Confessin' (That I Love You) (3:40)
20. Nuages (3:16)
