In the twenties played Stephane Grappelli (1908) as a violinist and pianist in bars and clubs in Paris. There he met guitarist Django Reinhardt, with whom he founded the Quintette du Hot Club de France in 1934. This was one of the first jazz bands whose members played only stringed instruments. Their music was a unique mix of gypsy music and jazz improvisation and formed the basis for the gypsy
… jazz. After Reinhardt's death in 1953 Grappelli did many gigs with various musicians. In 1969 he played for the first time in the US, including at the Newport Jazz Festival. Then he was a welcome guest at many international jazz festivals. Grappelli is known for his romantic style of play, rooted in the swing era.more