What Django Reinhardt played in 1935 was not the same as what he played in
1953. Also, he wasn't working in a vacuum. He was part of a music scene
that drew a great deal of inspiration from American jazz.

Django started out idolizing Louis Armstrong and the early Hot Club
recordings certainly owe something to Joe Venuti and Eddie Lang.

I'm not saying Django was influenced by Charlie Christian any more than by
other jazz musicians like Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, or Artie Shaw, or
the later bop players. But the proof is in the listening, and in a few
recordings from the early 1940s at least, you can hear some CC-style licks.

That takes nothing away from the man. Everybody is influenced by somebody
else. The greatest musician is also the best listener.


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