Lulu Reinhardt


Lulu Reinhardt was a French gypsy jazz guitarist in the tradition of Django Reinhardt. He performed lead/joint lead guitar duties with the groups Romanesj, the Häns'che Weiss Quintett, the Titi Winterstein Quintet, and subsequently with Rigo Winterstein and Peter Petrel. He is considered an archetypal figure in the 1970s German gypsy jazz school.

Biography

Reinhardt grew up in a Manouche community, first in his birthplace Forbach, then in Verviers, Belgium. He had first lessons from his father Noto, initially based on the style of Django Reinhardt. He made his first appearances at the age of twelve. At the beginning of the 1970s, the Reinhardt family lived in the Eifel near Euskirchen. His first recordings were made with the Ensemble Romanesj, with Haentsje and Bakro Rosenberg. In 1976 he became a member of the gypsy jazz Quintet of Häns'che Weiss and the following year took part in a tour with Weiss with Stéphane Grappelli. From 1978 he played in the quintet of Titi Winterstein. He formed a group with the saxophonist Dodi Schumacher and then headed a swingtett with Rigo Winterstein that was active for two decades and released several albums. Then he performed with Peter Petrel and his Gypsy Swingtett. Reinhardt also wrote a number of compositions such as "Lulu Swing", "Noto Swing" and "Valse à Madame". In the field of jazz he was involved in eleven recording sessions between 1975 and 1987.
In his obituary, Django Station describes Lulu Reinhardt with his technically virtuoso playing as the protagonist of the "German school" of gypsy jazz guitar, which is characterized by aggressive attack, rolling chords, rhythmic placement and virtuosity.
Lulu Reinhardt is not to be confused with Lulo Reinhardt.

Discography