Commemorating The Great Jazz Violinist, Stephane Grappelli

Today is the birthday (1908) of one of my favorite jazz artists, the violinist, Stephane Grappelli. He was born is Paris, grew up poor and made a marginal living playing the violin in the streets and accompanying silent films on the piano. In 1934 he met a gypsy guitarist named Django Reinhardt and, with him,, formed a quintette - Hot Club de France - that would make history in the world of jazz and popular music.

Grappelli in rehearsal                                                  Photo by Murdo McLeod

Grappelli made his American debut in 1960, long after the Hot Club dissolved, and enjoyed a second career playing to admiring fans around the world until his death in 1997.

Here is a one-hour interview he made for NPR's Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz in 1990. It's lively and full of warm conversation, humor, and some wonderful, intimate performances. If readers don't have an hour to enjoy this jazz master at work, here is a taste of his contribution to music. 

I sincerely hope his music is a song without end.