The Hot Club Quartette

The Hot Club Quartette celebrates the music of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli's innovative Hot Club de France Quintette.



The Quintette of the Hot Club of France is generally considered by jazz historians to be the greatest of all European Jazz bands. The group started out as an informal jam session that was held between sets at the Hotel Claridge (37 Rue Francois 1er.) in Paris in 1933. Stéphane Grappelli, Django Reinhardt, Roger Chaput and Louis Vola were playing in the hotel dance band at the time. Between sets they would play jazz together in a backroom at the hotel. One day Pierre Nourry and Charles Delaunay of Hot Club witnessed one of these sessions and arranged that the group record it's first records for the Ultraphone label in December of 1934. The group went on to become very popular in Europe both on records and as a live act. The group disbanded in 1939 as war broke out in Europe. The band was playing in London when England declared war on Germany. Stéphane Grappelli decided to stay in London and while Django Reinhardt returned to Paris. They would not see each other again until after the war in 1946.



Our ensemble consists of a violin, two guitars and a string bass. We specialize in music from the '30s and '40s, featuring well-known and rare compositions by Django, Stephane and other composers. Some tunes include; Nuages, Ultra Fox, Swing 42, Stompin' at Decca, Bouncin' Around, Djangology, Oriental Shuffle, Chicago, Honeysuckle Rose and Minor Swing just to mention a few.



We have performed at the Ahwahnee Hotel, Argyle Hotel, The California Club, Getty Museum and other fine venues in Southern California.



We have released two CDs with rare Django gems and some original compositions. Purchase Vol II here!! You can also purchase Vol I here!!