What’s in a name? A quintet by any other name would sound as sweet! At least, that’s what went through my mind when my good friend violinist Daniel Garlitsky told me that his band with guitarist Duved Dunayevsky was going to receive the title of Quintette du Hot Club de France—the name of Django and Grappelli’s original formation—in an official ceremony on December 14th in Paris. My immediate reaction was to be thrilled and think it was well-deserved. I can’t think of anyone else who could wear the iconic title better than this stylish group of deeply dedicated musicians.
I grew up as a Hot Club enthusiast, especially through the work of one of my heroes, jazz chronicler Boris Vian, and I’ve been an admirer of Daniel and Duved’s music for many years: this was a perfect match and my fan-girl heart skipped a beat at the news. But then I wondered… why does this matter? I didn’t quite understand their need to resurrect a title forever associated with the spectral rattling of Django and Grappelli’s brief career under that band name. Does it have any significance beyond jazz nerdom and historical cosplaying? Why are we borne back ceaselessly into the past?
I decided to ask Daniel a few questions to better grasp the bigger picture, which lies somewhere between preserving a musical legacy and perpetuating a unique Parisian idiom.
Tatiana Eva-Marie: First, tell us the origin story—how did you and Duved meet?
Daniel Garlitsky: Randomly! On the quays of the river Seine. I was with a group of friends and a violin, he was with a group of friends and a guitar. He suggested we jam and it was a disaster, because I didn’t play that kind of music at the time. It took many more disasters until I finally decided to learn the style properly… I was always interested in jazz, as an amateur, but it is through my encounter with Duved that the desire to learn this specific language arose.
Whose idea was it to take on the name of the Quintette du Hot Club de France and how did it become a reality?
It started as a joke! As our style was getting closer and closer to that of the original Django and Grappelli formation, I suggested we take that name. We all had a good laugh… and here we are. The Hot Club de France is a non profit organization created in the 1930s in order to support hot jazz. To this day, their objective didn’t change. Although their reaction was positive from the moment we reached out to them with the idea, it took almost two years of discussions before they officially gave us the green light.
So, what happened on December 14th?
That was our big night! Together with the Hot Club de France, we organized our first concert using the name QHCF at the beautiful Salle Cortot—the very same concert hall where almost exactly ninety years ago, in December 1934, the original quintet played their first gig. Musicologist and Django expert Philippe Baudoin gave a talk about trad jazz and then the Hot Club de France’s president, François Desbrosses, officially “passed on the torch” to us.
Your formation with Duved has been playing together for a while now. Why is it important for the band to be called the QHCF instead of continuing under its former name?
True. Actually the original quintet also appeared under different names such as Django Reinhardt’s Hot Five or Stéphane Grappelli’s Hot Four feat. Django. It is just such an honor and also simply a pleasure to bear this name. More than music, it is a symbol of French culture and history.
The original QHCF was short lived and interest in the style of music they played declined when people started playing bebop, even Django moved on from it. Why return to the past?
We have to put things into perspective… The original band was playing popular music of their era and was short-lived because of various factors. WW2 separated the Django/Grappelli collaboration—they only briefly reunited when the war ended—but the quintet without Grappelli continued its activity until Django’s death, included various musicians, and produced some of its most beloved recordings (“Nuages”). Of course, Django, being an innovator, played music of his time and that includes bebop. In our case things are different. We play music from a different era and treat it almost like classical music. We simply love this music and this aesthetic—we are trying to recreate it as accurately as possible.
Is this just a way of preserving Django’s legacy or are you also going to be composing new music?
It is a way of preserving Django’s legacy BY composing new music. Of course, we will perform Django’s greatest hits but our repertoire includes various tunes from that era that he didn’t perform, some classical music arranged in the style, and some compositions as well.
What is the Hot Club de France stamp of approval going to change?
That doesn’t really matter. It was simply inconceivable for us to appropriate the name without their consent and involvement. The quintet was short lived but the organization remained active throughout the decades—and still is today! They brought the greatest jazz musicians to France, including Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Charlie Parker, to name just a few. They are our link to the golden age of jazz and we are grateful for their support.
Is there an album coming out?
Yes! We’re releasing our first album under our new name during the first trimester 2025. It will include tunes from the 1930s that the original quintet did not record and compositions in that style. Check out our website www.hc5.fr for more information!
Django invited American musicians to record with the QHCF, do you plan to do the same?
Absolutely. Duved and I have already agreed that our second album will be The QHCF Invites. Some of the best trad jazz players are in the United States, so inviting American musicians as special guests is pretty much a done deal!
What do you have to say to people who think the title of QHCF is “sacred” and you shouldn’t dare measure yourselves up to Django and Grappelli?
That they are simply missing the point. Our goal is not to impersonate Django and Grappelli but to carry on their legacy. We’re not the only ones to assume a preexisting name. There is the Golden Gate Quartet, the Count Basie Orchestra, or any symphony orchestras where musicians retire and younger ones replace them without breaking the link. As such, the Quintet of the Hot Club de France still has a lot to say.
Visit Daniel Garlitsky online at www.garlitsky.com.
