About This Item
How This CD Came To Be By Linda Ferro Six years ago, my husband, Mike, and I read the excellent biography, Django Reinhardt, by Charles Delaunay. The book was inspirational and we discovered that the man, Django, was so much more than a musician. We decided to write lyrics to some of Django's music, some of which was co-authored by the great violinist, Stephane Grapelli. We felt that the melodies and rhythms would lend themselves beautifully to words. Mike and I didn't just want to impose our thoughts and feelings, so - in addition to the biography - we read as many books, articles, and liner notes as we could find by other admirers and critics of Django, including Ian Cruikshank's stunning and moving, Django's Gypsies. We shared the books, albums, stories, and videos with friends and all were moved by the spirit of Django. Django's life was as spellbinding as any novel. He was a man who conquered devastating social and physical handicaps, overcame poverty and illiteracy, survived war. He was a musician, a painter, a fisherman, a gambler, and a world-class billiard player. He loved music, his friends, his mother, his wife, his son. He died tragically young, and yet left an immortal influence. We approached the music with the utmost respect. The lyrics reflect the song titles, as well as the life and times of Django InchAt Django'sInch sings of the club Django always wanted to own; InchDjango's IslandInch could be the place of InchPorto CabelloInch; InchGypsy BluesInch could have been Ike's lament; InchIf You're In The MoodInch is a cabaret fantasy; InchMidnight RideInch refers to the flower in InchFleur d'EnnuiInch and the lonely after-hours life of a musician; InchMy Love For YouInch sings about the East as does InchOriental ShuffleInch. And so on. This was a labor of love. I hope that this work brings Django to life for those who would have found him unreachable be
