“Tiger Rag” – The Quintet of the Hot Club of France (Django Reinhardt)

Django Reinhardt was 24 when he and violinist Stéphane Grappelli formed the legendary Quintet of the Hot Club of France. This record was from their very first recording session as the Quintet in Paris on December 28, 1934.

The quintet gives the standard “Tiger Rag”, originally recorded by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band in 1918, a wild rollicking ride from the very start. The guitars, violin, and bass all trade joyfully frantic solos until the very end, when it sounds as if the air had finally been let out of the balloon and the tune deflates as it approaches the last note.

Released in the U.K. as Oriole LV.101. Original release in France was as Ultraphon AP-1423.

Credits
Stéphane Grappelli – violin
Django Reinhardt, Roger Chaput, Joseph Reinhardt – guitar
Louis Vola – string bass