Django Reinhardt with the Glenn Miller’s All Stars - Paris 1945

The Guardian 80

(Milan)

Glenn Miller died in a plane crash in December 1944, but his US army air force band, now based in newly liberated Paris, kept going. These 12 tracks, recorded there in January 1945, feature the band’s swing stars, including pianist Mel Powell, clarinettist/saxophonist Peanuts Hucko and drummer Ray McKinley. On four numbers they jam along with France’s jazz hero, guitarist Django Reinhardt. Although not entirely forbidden by the Nazis, jazz had been kept under wraps during the occupation. Now Paris was free and swing was everywhere. Some of the atmosphere of those heady days comes across here. The music is happy and buoyant, immaculately played and surprisingly well recorded.