Django Reinhardt...

[jazzbo]

I think you're right. Honestly, I won't have time to do the comparisons, but I DID do the comparisons many moons ago and I believe that with the Mosaic and the JIPs you won't need any of the cheap sets. . . .

[king ubu]

I think you're right. Honestly, I won't have time to do the comparisons, but I DID do the comparisons many moons ago and I believe that with the Mosaic and the JIPs you won't need any of the cheap sets. . . .

Thanks!

ubu

[brownie]

Ubu, the first Django Reinhardt JSP box 'The Classic Early Recordings' included quite a number of tracks that are not on the Mosaic box. Among those are the superb sides recorded for Decca in London that are not on the Jazz in Paris series either.

Not that I am the one who intends to dilapidate your money but I think that first box is one to get. I should add that the JSP people worked from excellent 78rpm sources and they did improve on the sound on quite a lot of the Django classics. Can't speak for the second Django box which I didn't get since it did not seem to include additional or better material than what was available elsewhere.

[Aggie87]

up...

I stumbled across the Django Mosaic box at Waterloo last weekend while visiting Austin. Surprised to see it there in the first place, since I didn't think this one was released to retail (?).

But they were asking about $150-$160 for it, which seems strange to me, since it's still in print and is selling for $96.00 on the Mosaic website.

Was this perhaps a vinyl version that's out of print or something? Or are they just hoping to sell it for above market value?

Shoulda looked more closely, but my hands were already full

[brownie]

The French label Fremeaux has completed its doubleCD series of Django Reinhardt recordings. The final issue (volume 20) has just been released:

Django Reinhardt Vol. 20

It includes the 1953 recordings plus several radio broadcasts on disc 1, then various rare tracks (most of them with Django, others with associates) from 1928 to 1953 that were not available at the start of the series.

[Kalo]

I've loved Django since first hearing him in college. He's one of those artists who transcends genre. I can't imagine anyone not liking his stuff, even if they're not jazz heads. Many folk and country musicians revere him, for instance.

I've got the Mosaic and a bunch of random vinyl things, plus a lot of his stuff with American musicians. Looks like the JIPs are where to go next--and that first JSP box sounds tempting.

Edited June 14, 2005 by Kalo

[Clunky]

a word of caution re JSP sets, I've had a number of minor problems with discs skipping or drop outs on three JSP box sets I've had.

In one case there was no metallic layer on the disc at all. I was spinning the Django Vol. 1 last night and noticed a number of noticeable clicks on various tracks- nothing horrendous but I do wonder about their production standards

[mmilovan]

a word of caution re JSP sets, I've had a number of minor problems with discs skipping or drop outs on three JSP box sets I've had.

In one case there was no metallic layer on the disc at all. I was spinning the Django Vol. 1 last night and noticed a number of noticeable clicks on various tracks- nothing horrendous but I do wonder about their production standards

←

On the other hand Django's Mosaic set is the worst sounding Django. I must admit (don't have right to criticize), I've heard the same transfers as on Mosaic, on some old CD (if you're interesting in, I can try to trace what transfers on what particular CD sounds the same as on Mosaic). They both have one technical issue I remembered: portions of attacks of Grapelly's notes and f.e. trumpet player notes are wiped off so you can hear it audibly well - because of using early stages of some digital filter. It's possible Mosaic used that old material while not doing transfers from 78s, don't know what is the case here.

Speaking about JSP set - it sounds marvelous, and vinyl pressings of some old 78s can bring sparkling sound with no noise at all. Of course, there are 2 or 3 takes in such sound, but I thing they are gorgeous... real audio gems.

Edited June 16, 2005 by mmilovan

[Clunky]

the sound on the JSP set Vol 1 is excellent, great transfers etc my concern is the pressing qulaity ( if that's the right word ) of the CD.

The Frog discs look interesting though...yet another possible route

[mmilovan]

the sound on the JSP set Vol 1 is excellent, great transfers etc my concern is the pressing qulaity ( if that's the right word ) of the CD.

←

And the graphic design of covers themself - not always on highest standards, IMO....

[Kalo]

I agree, the JSP graphics are pretty much uniformly awful. The John R.T. Davies masterings, however, always sound great. Did he do the first Reinhardt?

Edited June 15, 2005 by Kalo

[Rosco]

a word of caution re JSP sets, I've had a number of minor problems with discs skipping or drop outs on three JSP box sets I've had.

In one case there was no metallic layer on the disc at all. I was spinning the Django Vol. 1 last night and noticed a number of noticeable clicks on various tracks- nothing horrendous but I do wonder about their production standards

←

Got the two Django boxes on JSP and can't report any problems with mine, they're marvellous.

Agree about the packaging though... how hard can it be to make these things look decent? They also bill them as 'chronological' which they plainly are anything but!

[Chalupa]

http://www.spikesbigadventure.com/mp3s/videos/django/

[jazzbo]

First set was remasterd by Mr. Davies. Second set. . . I don't have it. . .I've been told it is uncredited and sounds fine. Third set was remastered by Ted Kendall (Davies' protege so to speak).

[mmilovan]

First set was remasterd by Mr. Davies.  Second set. . . I don't have it. . .I've been told it is uncredited and sounds fine.  Third set was remastered by Ted Kendall (Davies' protege so to speak).

←

Think I've read Ted Kendall's name on the first set as well...

Whoever it was, Kendall or J.R.T. Davies, it's real pleasure, especially while listening to "Chicago" played by Django and Stephane - with no noise at all (transfers of 78s metal parts pressed in vinyl), at full range audio spectrum.

Edited June 16, 2005 by mmilovan

[Clunky]

so has anyone heard/got either of the Frog Django's. Any idea what the coverage of their series is meant to be ???

[jazzbo]

I haven't myself gotten the Frog Djangos. Those and the two newest are I believe the Frogs I don't have!

You are right sir: Ted Kendall on the first Django JSP set. Thanks for the correction.

[Chalupa]

More videos...

http://www.djangobooks.com/archives/video_...ry_honcoop.html

[king ubu]

Coming up, seems to be official:

Would that be the same material as in the Mosaic box?

Not that I really care, I've got my Frémeaux Django, so there's that, but still I'm somewhat curious as I just stumbled over this on amazon.fr

[brownie]

Details about this 8CD box due out next month.

Don't think there is anything new there!

[Bluesnik]

isn't that cover beautiful?

[WD45]

I picked up the "Djangologie" 20CD set a while back for about $36 new at Amazon. Looks like it is no longer available at that price.

Amazon link

That, plus the Period 2CD set make up my Django collection. Lots of gems in there, for certain!

[Bluesnik]

Would that be the same material as in the Mosaic box?

i got this box and it contains some ultraphone (a small label whose claim to fame was having recorded django and which was later bought up by vogue) sessions from 1934-35, and different radio broadcasts from 1945 and 47, a concert from Brussels and something i still haven't listened to. i don't know what's in the mosaic but here it's mostly the usual quintet with stephane grapelli or, after 1945, with hubert rostaing or two other clarintetists and django with a big band. and it's a lot of material: 8 cds.

[Pim]

So I’ve got this one:

https://www.discogs.com/release/2371061-Django-Reinhardt-The-Classic-Early-Recordings-In-Chronological-Order

 

lots of value for your money, well documented and great sound. Recommended by the Penguin. But it looks cheapish (which is fine for that money) and no nice booklets with background info and pictures etc. 
 

What is the most definitive multiple disc Django compilation according to you guys? 

[Big Beat Steve]

1 hour ago, Pim said:

What is the most definitive multiple disc Django compilation according to you guys? 

Given the masses of reissues, that's a touchy question and I doubt it is easier to answer than it was 21 years ago when the discussions in THIS thread were "hot". 

I've wondered about this myself. At any rate I think it MUST be one that goes across label boundaries. Ultraphone/Swing/Decca/Columbia/Rhythme etc. all would have to be included, regardless of who "owns" what.
And then it all depends on the programming/compiling philosophy: Will it be Django Reinhardt with the QHCF and/or his solo/trio/"Django's Music" recordings only or will his sessions with other French band leaders (Alix Combelle, Philippe Brun, André Ekyan etc.) and visiting US musicians backed up by French groups (where Django always made important contributions IMO) be covered as well?

Back in the vinyl days when I started out, the "Djangologie" series of some 20 LPs by EMI/Pathé probably was the most comprehensive and best-organized one. But of course it was limited to the labels linked to Pathé. And these were too much for my student funds anyway ... and I already had some on individual other LPs and could not afford dumping these. Later on (in the late 80s) I bought this 8-LP set on Affinity (UK) which gives a good cross-section (including his very interesting recordings with visiting US jazzmen) but is not comprehensive either, of course: 
https://www.discogs.com/release/5952389-Django-Reinhardt-Django

Over time I picked up most of those LPs from the Djangologie series that more or less fill the gaps left by this Affinity box. Plus some "outliers" such as the sessions from Belgium, Italy, the session with US musicians from 1945, etc.

But if I wanted to be still more comprehensive yet I'd have to almost start from scratch and get the Frémeaux CD series - as the "Intégrale - Saison 1 to 3" box sets which include 40 CDs. Which from all I've read and heard would be the most definitive multi-disc compilation today. They are listed at a shade over 60 EUR per box set on Amazon - which sounds like a fair price. And above all a way better deal than buying twenty 2-CD sets.
https://www.amazon.nl/s?k=Django+reinhardt+Intégrale+Frémeaux&crid=1DJ95NVEHL3SM&sprefix=django+reinhardt+intégrale+frémeaux%2Caps%2C89&ref=nb_sb_noss

BTW, talking about value for money, some years ago I picked up the below P.D. set of 10 CDs secondhand at a special sale locally for the huge amount of 1 (one!) EUR:  
https://www.discogs.com/release/4287199-Django-Reinhardt-Djangology

If found very cheaply, it is an OK gap filler for non-completists. It includes most everything of the studio recordings from April 1937 to July 1943 (search me why they cover this time span), and the fidelity is good. Sure, its presentation is basic, no session details at all, but at such a minimum investment this can be overcome if you have a decent Django Reinhardt discography (which I think I have). And at any rate, working your way through his discographical work to see what you have and don't have on any given multi-disc set (below the level of the Freméaux packages) and where you can fill any remaining gaps most efficiently can still be a long-winding affair. Better not to be a completist ... 

Edited 27 minutes ago by Big Beat Steve