Eddie Lang & Joe Venuti VS Django Reinhardt & Stephane Grappelli

**adamrhowe** · 03-10-2022, 09:26 AM

Similar format of music between these two duos and their groups, but with different sound and interpretation.

Who do you prefer? The American style or the European style?

**AllanAllen** · 03-10-2022, 11:14 AM

The last time this came up I listened to some Lang/Venuti thought it was good, but never went back. So I went with European.

**nyc chaz** · 03-10-2022, 02:22 PM

I was lucky enough to see both Grapelli and Venuti play live and both were beyond great.I have to pick Django/Grapelli because i don't think Lang is equal to Django.

**AndyV** · 03-10-2022, 05:09 PM

What's the point of such a comparison? Django built his style on part of Lang's vocabulary as did Stephane with Joe.

**adamrhowe** · 03-10-2022, 05:46 PM

Originally Posted by AndyV

What's the point of such a comparison?

Because its a very similar style with subtle differences

**rpjazzguitar** · 03-10-2022, 07:28 PM

Not so many years separated them, but I hear them as reflecting different eras.

That said, I find Lang/Venuti to be of academic interest, but I can really enjoy Django/Grapelli.

**wintermoon** · 03-11-2022, 12:00 AM

Not going to say one was better than the other but I prefer Venuti/Lang especially since I got completely burned out on gypsy jazz yrs ago. Joe and Eddie performed in many different settings. Granted Django was one of the greatest improvisers on any instrument but don't sell the inventor of jazz guitar, Eddie Lang, short. A brilliant accompanist, and I certainly prefer Venuti to Grappelli.