Stephane Grappelli: A Life in Jazz

Publisher: Bobcat Books, 2009
The definitive biography of a unique musician whose life spanned the 20th century

Born in Paris in 1908, Stephane Grappelli experienced every decade of the jazz century. At the age of six, his precocious talents led him to study dance with the tempestuous Isadora Duncan before the First World War forced him into the streets on Montmartre, where he displayed the grit and determination that would propel him to the stages of the world.

Grappellis astounding story spans 77 years, during which time he performed with the great names in jazz: Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Oscar Peterson, George Shearing, Joe Venuti and Martin Taylor. But it is his performances with Django Reinhardt, his greatest friend, for which he is perhaps best remembered. Together, the pair cut a swathe through the embryonic world of music recording, building a legacy that would outlive them both.

Containing exclusive interviews with Stephane, contributions from his friends and family, much newly discovered evidence on both Stephane and Django and many previously unpublished photographs, Stephane Grappelli: With and Without Django is a slice of music history, a testament to a man who invented his own style of jazz.