Stéphane Grappelli was a luminary in the world of jazz, a French violinist whose career spanned over half a century and whose influence remains inextinguishable. Born on January 26, 1908, in Paris, Grappelli's emergence in the music scene is most notably marked by his collaboration with the legendary guitarist Django Reinhardt, with whom he formed the Quintette du Hot Club de France in the 1930s. This group is largely credited with founding the genre of gypsy jazz or jazz manouche—a style melding the American jazz idiom with the Romani music Grappelli was exposed to during his formative years.

Renowned for his virtuosic improvisation and the lyrical, mellifluous tones he coaxed from his violin, Grappelli's repertoire included jazz standards, original compositions, and interpretations of contemporary music. His longevity as a performing artist was remarkable; even into his 80s, he graced stages worldwide with his dynamic playing and unwavering dedication to his craft. Throughout his career, he recorded dozens of albums and collaborated with a multitude of artists across various genres, asserting his versatility and passion for musical exploration. Though he passed away on December 1, 1997, his recordings, including those remastered and posthumously released, continue to captivate listeners and affirm Stéphane Grappelli's status as a true giant of jazz violin.

Genres

French Jazz

Gypsy Jazz

Jazz Violin

Related Artists

Django Reinhardt

Toots Thielemans

Jean-Luc Ponty

Oscar Peterson

Stuff Smith

Yehudi Menuhin

Joe Venuti

Louis Armstrong

Édith Piaf

Miles Davis

Stan Getz

Duke Ellington

Latest Release

Mon Ami Django

Stéphane Grappelli

Album - 16 Tracks - Released January 10, 2023