Stephane Grappelli Ensemble – Ndr 60 Years Jazz Edition Vol.3 (CD, Moosicus)

In 1957 Stéphane Grappelli went to Hamburg, where he made a guest appearance with a quartet on May 17 in Studio 1 of the broadcasting center of the North German Broadcasting Corporation. A rare event, because the then 49-year-old musician was considered one of the world’s best jazz violinists – he once headed the legendary Quintette du Hot Club de France with Django Reinhardt – but from the late 1940s to the mid-1960s he was only rarely found in recording studios. Co-musicians at the session on NDR were Grappelli’s longtime accompanist on the piano, Maurice Vander, drummer Rolf Ahrens and bassist Hans Last, later better known as James Last. The whole thing was of course recorded in the very best quality. The album is remastered on CD and 180 gram double vinyl, the liner notes are in German, English and French.