Stephane Grappelli: With and Without Django

Balmer, Paul

ISBN 10: 1860744532 / ISBN 13: 9781860744532

Published by Sanctuary Publishing, London, UK, 2003

About this Item

First edition, first printing. 440pp. In black cloth-covered boards with silver titles on spine. Jet black endpapers. 8vo. A couple of faint shadows on text block edges, else neat, clean, bright and tight throughout. In its original dust jacket, very slightly bumped at edges. Born in Paris in 1908, Stephane Grappelli experience every decade of the jazz century. Preciously talented as a child, he studied dance with the tempestuous Isadora Duncan before the First World War forced him onto the streets of Montmartre. His astonishing story, told here with authority by Paul Balmer, spans some 77 years during which he performed with the great names of jazz from Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie and George Shearing to Joe Venuti and Martin Taylor.

Seller Inventory # 020503

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Stephane Grappelli: With and Without Django
• Publisher: Sanctuary Publishing, London, UK
• Publication Date: 2003
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1860744532
• ISBN 13: 9781860744532
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition.
• Condition: Near Fine
• Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good
• Seller catalogs:
  • Autobiography and Biography
  • Music and Songs

About this title

Synopsis

Born in Paris in 1908, Stephane Grappelli experienced every decade of the jazz century and his story spans an astonishing 77 years, during which time he performed with the great names of jazz: Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie and Oscar Peterson. But it's his performances with Django Reinhardt, for which he is perhaps best remembered. Contains exclusive interviews with Stephane as well as contributions from his family and friends, much newly discovered evidence on both Stephane and Django and many previously unpublished photos. This is a slice of music history, a testament to a man who invented his own style of jazz.

Synopsis

Charts his up-bringing in the semi-rural slums of Montmartre, life under the Nazi rule of World War Two to his meeting with Django Rheinhardt and the emergence of Swing. His life took in the heady heights of the jazz world of the 1950s and the wide variety of musicians and singers he performed with - Art Tatum, Paul Whiteman, a fresh-faced Nigel Kennedy, and of course Bing Crosby. Unearthing countless rare photographs and memorabilia from his personal archives, as well as undertaking many interviews with surviving friends and musical contemporaries, the author also conducts the last interview before his death, making this the definitive account of this jazz legend's life and career.