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Django and the
Air Transport Command Band
Django
Reinhardt recorded nineteen tracks with the ATC (Air Transport Command Band)
directed by Sergeant Jack Platt, and three with members of the band under his
own name . Only four of the titles were released by the Swing label as "Django
Reinhardt and his American Swing Band"; the remaining sides were acetates,
either from AFN (American Forces Network) radio programs or from their final
concert at the Salle Pleyel in1945.
In late 1945 the great guitarist Django Reinhardt had an opportunity to
broadcast regularly with The ATC (Air Transport Command) Orchestra, a big band
filled with talented but now-forgotten American servicemen. Reinhardt is the
main soloist throughout, whether with the full orchestra or with small groups
out of the band; he also takes "Improvisation No. 6" unaccompanied. In addition,
The ATC band is heard on six selections without the guitarist. All in all this
is a surprising and consistently interesting release.
Django Reinhardt Avec Air Transport
Command Band
Les Lieber Alto Saxophone, Joe Moser Alto
Saxophone, Ken Lowther Baritone Saxophone, Bob Decker Bass, Jim Hayes Clarinet &
Alto Saxophone, Bill Bethel Drums, Red Lacky Drums,
Django Reinhardt Guitar
Larry Mann Piano, Bernie Cavaliere Tenor Saxophone, Bill Zickefoose Tenor
Saxophone, Bill Decker Trombone, Don Gardner Trombone, Shelton Heath Trombone.
John Kirpatrick Trombone. Herb Bass Trumpet, Robin Gould Trumpet, Jerry Stephan
Trumpet, Lonnie Wilfong Trumpet.
Pictured here is Lonnie Wilfong, trumpet
player and arranger for the Air Transport Command 'Big Band' that Django hooked up with as the war was winding down in France, 1945.
 Django ended up on the Côte
d’Azur, and it was at Toulon, a town which had a decided importance in his life
that in August 1944 he found himself adopted by a G.l. orchestra belonging to
the newly-landed American forces.
He was a sensation. From there, under the
patronage of the Allies, he went from strength to strength: star appearance in a
forces show at the Olympia (where he shared the billing with Fred
Astaire), recording sessions with Glenn Miller sidemen (recently disbanded
following their leader’s death, and, as a final accolade, featured soloist with
the Air Transport Command big band in a recital at the Salle Pleyel in December
1945.
This was the high point of Djangos
popularity. Never again was he to delight such vast audiences.
October 26, 1945 ~ A.F.N. Radio
Program, Paris
Django Reinhardt and the Air Transport Command Band (A.T.C.)
directed by Sergeant Jack Platt
Herb Bass, Jerry Stephan, Robin Gould (tp); Lonnie Wilfong (tp & arr.); Bill
Decker, Don Gardner, Shelton Heath, John Kirkpatrick (tb); Jim Hayes (cl & as);
Joe Moser (as); Bernie Cavaliere, Bill Zickefoose (ts); Ken Lowther (bs); Larry
Mann (p); Bob Decker (b); Bill Bethel (dm); Django Reinhardt (g solo)
Belleville, Djangology, Honeysuckle Rose, Moten Swing, Uptown Blues,
November 6, 1945 ~ A.F.N. Radio Program, Paris
Herb Bass, Jerry Stephan, Robin Gould (tp); Lonnie
Wilfong (tp & arr.); Bill Decker, Don Gardner, Shelton Heath, John Kirkpatrick (tb);
Jim Hayes (cl & as); Joe Moser (as); Bernie Cavaliere, Bill Zickefoose (ts); Ken
Lowther (bs); Larry Mann (p); Bob Decker (b); Bill Bethel (dm); Django Reinhardt
(g solo)
Djangology, Swing Guitars, Manoir De Mes Rêves, Are You In The Mood?
December 1, 1945 ~ A.F.N. "Beaucoup de Musique" emission de radio.
Studios Parisiens, Paris
Django Reinhardt (g solo)
acc. by Les Lieber (as); Larry Mann (p); Django Reinhardt (g solo); Bob
Decker (b); Red Lacky (dm)
Don't Be That Way, Honeysuckle Rose
December 1, 1945 A.F.N. "Beaucoup de Musique" emission de radio. Studios
Parisiens, Paris
Django Reinhardt (g solo)
Improvisation #6
December 8, 1945 NBC radio program A.F.N. Studios Parisiens,
Paris
Django Reinhardt and the Air Transport Command Band
(A.T.C.) directed by Sergent Jack Platt
Herb Bass, Jerry Stephan, Robin Gould (tp); Lonnie Wilfong (tp & arr.); Bill
Decker, Don Gardner, Shelton Heath, John Kirkpatrick (tb); Jim Hayes (cl & as);
Joe Moser (as); Bernie Cavaliere, Bill Zickefoose (ts); Ken Lowther (bs); Larry
Mann (p); Bob Decker (b); Bill Bethel (dm); Django Reinhardt (g solo)
Belleville, Moten Swing,
December 16, 1945 ~ NBC radio program A.F.N. Studios
Parisiens, Paris
Django Reinhardt and the Air Transport Command Band
(A.T.C.) directed by Sergent Jack Platt
Herb Bass, Jerry Stephan, Robin Gould (tp); Lonnie Wilfong (tp & arr.); Bill
Decker, Don Gardner, Shelton Heath, John Kirkpatrick (tb); Jim Hayes (cl & as);
Joe Moser (as); Bernie Cavaliere, Bill Zickefoose (ts); Ken Lowther (bs); Larry
Mann (p); Bob Decker (b); Bill Bethel (dm); Django Reinhardt (g solo)
Apple Honey, Are You In The Mood ?, Belleville, Djangology, Manoir De Mes Réves,
Moten Swing, Swing Guitars, Uptown Blues
 A
star appearance in a forces show at the Olympia (where he shared the billing
with Fred Astaire), recording sessions with Glenn Miller sidemen (recently
disbanded following their leader’s death, and, as a final accolade, featured
soloist with the Air Transport Command big band in a recital at the Salle Pleyel
in December 1945.
The discs he had recorded with this orchestra a short time
previously are included in the present collection, and it is clear that this was
a setting in which his genius was given its fullest scope.
In Djangology, for
example, we witness the sheer power of a guitarist, completely unamplified,
dominating the brass section of a big band in full cry. This was the high point
of Djangos popularity. Never again was he to delight such vast audiences.
Django Reinhardt recorded
nineteen tracks with the ATC (Air Transport Command Band) directed by Sergeant
Jack Platt, and three with members of the band under his own name . Only four of
the titles were released by the Swing label as "Django Reinhardt and his
American Swing Band"; the remaining sides were acetates, either from AFN
(American Forces Network) radio programs or from their final concert at the
Salle Pleyel.
Honeysuckle Rose with the
ATC Band
Charlie Christian with
the Metronome All Star Band
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PAUL
VERNON CHESTER