Django Reinhardt—”Minor Swing” (1947)

“Minor Swing” is one of the best known compositions of Belgian Sinti guitarist Jean Baptiste “Django” Reinhardt (1910-1953). It was written in 1937 and has become a popular jazz standard.

Django Reinhardt Quintet in Paris, France, on August 29, 1947: Maurice Meunier-clarinet; Django Reinhardt-solo guitar; Eugène Vees-rhythm guitar; Emmanuel Soudieux-double bass; and André Jourdan-drums.

Despite a month-long engagement at the Café Society Uptown In New York In January 1947 and a performance at the Waldorf Astoria, Django Reinhardt came back to France in February 1947, thoroughly disappointed with the U.S., where he had not achieved the triumph he had counted on. This was as much the result of his personal Bohemianism as the problem of U.S. showbusiness.

In March, Django opened at the Paris night club Le Boeuf Sur Le Toit. Then he went on a tour of Belgium and Germany to perform for the American occupation forces.

When Django came back to Paris the radio company Radiodiffusion Française asked him to take part in a show called “Surprise Party,” which was broadcast on Saturday nights. The show was recorded in an old movie theater in Montparnasse, and thanks to amateur recording engineers who ”pirated” the broadcasts this never commercially released 1947 recording Of “Minor Swing” has survived.