Monday, February 08, 2021

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Django Reinhardt


Artist:Django Reinhardt f/Freddy Taylor

Song:I'se A-Muggin'

Album:Django With His American Friends


Singer Freddy Taylor's claim to fame is that he was briefly a member of guitar legend Django Reinhardt's Quintet du Hot Club du France when he lived in Paris. I'se A-Buggin' was one of three songs Taylor recorded with Reinhardt. Unfortunately Taylor's discography isn't big enough to justify a full length CD. His songs with Reinhardt are easy to find on Reinhardt comp CDs. Taylor started out as a dancer in the Cotton Club in Harlem in the early 30s. He also worked in vaudeville doing skits. A 1933 tour with Lucky Millender's band landed Taylor in Paris. Bill Coleman taught him to play trumpet. And with all his talents, Taylor could open his own club and lead his own band. So he performed a lot but he didn't record much except for three songs with Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli. The fine folks at DRG Records have put Reinhardt's recordings with American musicians on this 3CD budget comp. This includes Coleman Hawkins, Frank "Big Boy" Goudie, Garnet Clark, Bill Coleman, Dicky Wells, Eddie South, Benny Carter, Larry Adler and Rex Stewart. Taylor returned to the US in the 40s. He continued to perform in clubs until his death in the late 60s. He just never recorded. Here's a video of I'se A-Buggin' by Django Reinhardt's Quintet du Hot Club du France featuring Freddy Taylor. 


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