Stéphane Grappelli
Share
One of the all-time great jazz violinists (ranking with Joe Venuti and Stuff Smith as one of the big three of pre-bop), Stéphane Grappelli's longevity and consistently enthusiastic playing did a great deal to establish the violin as a jazz instrument. He was originally self-taught as both a violinist and a pianist, although during 1924-28 he studied at the Paris Conservatoire. Grappelli played in movie theaters and dance bands before meeting guitarist Django Reinhardt in 1933. They hit it off musically from the start even though their lifestyles (Grappelli was sophisticated while Django was a gypsy) were very different. Together as Quintet of the Hot Club of France (comprised of violin, three acoustic guitars and bass) during 1933-39 they produced a sensational series of recordings and performances. During a London engagement in 1939, World War II broke out. Reinhardt rashly decided to return to France but Grappelli stayed in England, effectively ending the group. The violinist soon teamed up with the young pianist George Shearing in a new band that worked steadily through the war. In 1946, Grappelli and Reinhardt had the first of several reunions although they never worked together again on a regular basis (despite many new recordings). Grappelli performed throughout the 1950s and '60s in clubs throughout Europe and, other than recordings with Duke Ellington (Violin Summit) and Joe Venuti, he remained somewhat obscure in the U.S. until he began regularly touring the world in the early '70s. Since then Grappelli has been a constant traveler and a consistent poll-winner, remaining very open-minded without altering his swing style; he has recorded with David Grisman, Earl Hines, Bill Coleman, Larry Coryell, Oscar Peterson, Jean Luc Ponty and McCoy Tyner among many others. Active up until near the end, the increasingly frail Grappelli remained at the top of his field even when he was 89. His early recordings are all available on Classics CDs and he recorded quite extensively during his final three decades.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
Similar artists
Albums
63
albums sorted by Most acclaimed
From
HI-RES$8.49
CD$6.49
Jazz - Released January 23, 2015 | MPS
Hi-Res
From
CD$6.49
Jazz - Released January 31, 2014 | MPS
This CD finds veteran violinist Stephane Grappelli joined by bassist Niels Pedersen and guitarists Philip Catherine and Larry Coryell for a memorable tribute to Django Reinhardt. Grappelli has recorded many Reinhardt memorial albums through the years but this one is particularly special for both Coryell and Catherine go out of their way to display the unexpected influence that Reinhardt has had on their styles. The guitarists contribute a song apiece and also enjoy playing seven compositions co-written by Django and Grappelli.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
From
CD$10.99
Jazz - Released June 5, 2020 | Label Ouest
From
CD$10.49
Jazz - Released January 1, 2010 | Universal Music Division Decca Records France
At the time of this 1962 session, Stéphane Grappelli had not yet recaptured the fame that he achieved during his prewar partnership with Django Reinhardt, though he was hardly idle at the time. This meeting with guitarist Pierre Cavalli, bassist Guy Pedersen, and drummer Daniel Humair covers many tunes previously recorded by the Quintet of the Hot Club of France, but also delves into more recent works like John Lewis' elegant tribute to the late guitarist ("Django") and Sonny Rollins' catchy bop vehicle "Pent-Up House," both of which became a part of Grappelli's repertoire for the remainder of his career. The violinist is in good form, but not quite as inspired as he would be once his star rose a few years later. Cavalli's brash style of playing is no match for later Grappelli collaborators such as Joe Pass, Martin Taylor, or Marc Fosset. In any case, this CD from the bargain-priced Jazz in Paris series is definitely worth the money.
© Ken Dryden /TiVo
From
CD$12.99
Jazz - Released January 1, 1980 | Fantasy Records
By the time the 71-year-old Stephane Grappelli made this live trio recording with guitarist Joe Pass and bassist Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen, his legacy as the greatest of all jazz violinists was firmly in place. Granted, that made him first in a fairly short line of colleagues -- other than Joe Venuti and Stuff Smith, who else was there to consider? (Jean-Luc Ponty doesn't count.) But it's hard to imagine another player, regardless of virtuosity, ever conveying the same sense of swing and simple joie de vivre that Grappelli does with virtually every note. Nor does it hurt that his accompanists on this album are among the finest in their fields; Orsted Pedersen plays with a solidity and rhythmic power that are enough to make you forget the absence of a drummer, while Pass slides effortlessly between unobtrusive chordal backup and bravura soloing. The program itself is practically a Grapelli greatest-hits collection -- "It's Only a Paper Moon," "Crazy Rhythm," "How Deep Is the Ocean," etc. -- which makes this disc a perfect introduction to his art for anyone looking for a good place to begin. Highly recommended.
© Rick Anderson /TiVo
From
CD$12.99
Jazz - Released April 8, 1993 | Savoy
Stephane Grappelli may have given up standing during concerts late in life as a concession to his health, but at the age of 82, he still swung like mad with the best of them, as heard in this 1990 concert recorded in Tokyo. Accompanied by guitarist Marc Fosset and bassist Jean-Philippe Viret, with the addition of accordion player Marcel Azzola on a few selections, the violinist devotes a good part of his show to the expected standards from the 1930s and 1940s. Highlights include a swinging "Just One of Those Things," a delightful "Honeysuckle Rose" and a loping "Ol' Man River," the latter which adds ripples supplied by Azzola's accordion, until the dam breaks and the second half of the song comes on like a spring flood. The inevitable tribute to his late partner Django Reinhardt comes in the form of a cooking medley of the guitarist's "Nuages" and "Daphne." But Grappelli was also open to exploring newer works. He treats the audience to a bossa nova flavored take of Stevie Wonder's "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" (opening with a bit of pizzicato violin) and a fleet interpretation of Sonny Rollins' "Pentup House," featuring a great series of trade-offs between the violinist and Azzola. This is easily one of the better Stephane Grappelli CDs from late in his career.
© Ken Dryden /TiVo
From
CD$12.99
Pop - Released January 1, 1990 | Milestone
Violinist Stephane Grappelli, although a veteran of the swing era, has always kept an open mind toward newer styles even while he has retained his own sound and veteran repertoire. This duet set with pianist McCoy Tyner might seem unlikely at first glance but it works quite well. The duo sticks to standards (including two that are associated with John Coltrane) and find plenty of common ground. The mutual respect they have for each other is obvious and they both sound a bit inspired.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
From
CD$12.99
Pop - Released March 29, 2005 | Rhino Atlantic
From
CD$12.99
Jazz - Released November 27, 2007 | Rhino Atlantic
From
CD$12.99
Jazz - Released January 1, 2006 | Vanguard Records
On this double LP, violinist Stéphane Grappelli gets away from his usual tribute to the late Django Reinhardt and plays 15 standards, including "Mack the Knife," "The Girl from Ipanema," "You Took Advantage of Me," and "Body and Soul." Accompanied by organist Eddy Louiss, pianist Marc Hemmeler, guitarist Jimmy Gourley, bassist Guy Pedersen, and drummer Kenny Clarke, Grappelli is in typically flawless form for these enjoyable swing sessions.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
From
HI-RES$14.99
CD$9.99
Jazz - Released December 23, 1976 | De Wolfe Ltd
Hi-Res
From
CD$10.49
Jazz - Released January 1, 2008 | Universal Music Division Decca Records France
From
CD$8.99
Jazz - Released June 20, 2003 | Storyville
From
CD$12.99
Jazz - Released January 1, 1996 | Telarc
4 Stars - Very Good - "...Grappelli's attack has not only remained rock sure and steady. It has remained deeply rooted and resistant to adulteration and influence....the rhythmic power is irresistible....Like all the best early swing, it exists outside the reach of fashion of a bubble of eternal validity..."
© TiVo
From
CD$12.99
Classical - Released July 14, 1998 | Warner Classics
From
CD$6.49
Jazz - Released January 31, 2014 | MPS
This is a typically flawless swing set by violinist Stephane Grappelli. Joined by pianist Marc Hemmeler, bassist Eberhard Weber and drummer Kenny Clare for a session originally cut for MPS, Grappelli mixes together sophisticated ballads with hotter stomps and uplifts the somewhat modern rhythm section.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
From
CD$12.99
Jazz - Released January 1, 1992 | Dreyfus Jazz
At age 84, Stephane Grappelli was continuing to amaze and delight with his energy, invention, enthusiasm, and the sheer swinging joy of his playing. Having almost singlehandedly defined an entire style of jazz violin with guitarist Django Reinhardt in the 1930s, he has never departed from that admittedly archaic but never less than captivating style, and with guitarists Philip Catherine and Marc Fosset and bassist Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, he lays claim to the gypsy-jazz mantle all over again, playing tunes both old ("Stella By Starlight," "Oh Lady Be Good," the inevitable "Minor Swing") and new (Catherine's "Galerie des Princes," Larry Coryell's "Blues for Django and Stephane") and egging both Catherine and Fosset on to flights of adrenaline-driven virtuosity that leave the audience yelling for more. Particular highlights include Grappelli's own very lovely composition titled "Ballade," and a fine medley consisting of "Someone to Watch Over Me" and "I Got Rhythm." And don't miss his wonderful solo introduction on "Oh Lady Be Good." Excellent.
© Rick Anderson /TiVo
From
CD$7.99
Jazz - Released September 30, 1988 | 1201 MUSIC
This unusual duet session by violinist Stephane Grappelli and pianist Earl Hines had the potential for a lot of fireworks but is disappointingly relaxed. The emphasis is on ballads and, although Hines typically takes some chances with time during his solos, the music on the CD is on a whole overly tasteful and safe, well-played but not as memorable as it could have been.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
From
CD$12.99
Jazz - Released November 14, 1984 | Rhino Atlantic
Although he was very active in France during the 1950s and '60s, violinist Stephane Grappelli recorded relatively little until 1969. This Atlantic LP from 1962 finds Grappelli in good form in a quintet with guitarist Pierre Cavalli, performing a Django-dominated repertoire that is not all that different from what he would be playing 30 years later.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
From
CD$10.49
Classical - Released November 28, 2008 | Warner Classics
