Lulo Reinhardt (Volker Bruns photo)

By Paul Freeman [February 2018 Interview]

It's not easy following in the footsteps of a legend. But Lulo Reinhardt has carved out a melodious path of his own, as an internationally acclaimed guitarist. He is the great-nephew of guitar icon Django Reinhardt.

Lulo was raised in Germany. His father, Bawo Reinhardt, played in the family band, dating back to the 60s. Lulo's uncle became one of the first gypsy solo guitar players after Django, who died in 1953.

At age five, Lulo's father began teaching him the instrument. "My father had many guitars," Lulo said, reached by phone in Canada, where he was about to perform as part of the "International Guitar Night" tour. "A guitar was standing in every single corner, living room, even the bathroom. But I have eight brother and sisters and I am the only one who is playing. I think it's a thing of passion. I was crazy about guitar, the sound and everything."

Lulo grew up hearing stores about gypsy swing master Django Reinhardt. "Django was always wearing perfect clothes. One time, in front of the caravan where he was living, was some water and dirt. And his wife had to carry him on her back for like five meters," Lulo said, laughing, "He didn't want to ruin his new black shoes."

Lulo played Django's music for nearly 25 years with the family band. The first 20 were on rhythm guitar and bass, then he learned to play solo guitar.

"When I was beginning, Django was like a pressure on your shoulders, especially if you have the name Reinhardt. But now I've been playing my own music for 15 years. In the beginning, it wasn't easy, because people expected me to play Django, to play swing.

"No one in this whole world can play like Django, can sound like Django, because he played with two fingers, because his left hand was burned in 1928. The whole left side of his body was burned in a caravan. He was in the hospital for more than one year. And the doctor said, ‘We have to amputate your left arm and your left leg.' Django said, ‘No. I'm going to die before I lose my arm.' He came out of the hospital and he was practicing for two years to find his way again on the guitar. He ended up playing better than before."

And the sound Django developed was unique. "He had this tone. I've never heard this tone ever again, because you have to give more pressure on the strings. If you play with four fingers and then you play with two fingers, then automatically, you have a different tone. And the whole process he went through gave him his own tone. It's the sound of a new style."

For decades, musicians have marveled at Django's technique. "Nearly every guitar player was inspired by Django - B.B. King, Eric Clapton. They still play riffs from Django today. He was a hero. There are Django hot clubs in nearly every big city."

In the 80s, Lulo decided to find his own style, going beyond gypsy swing, exploring flamenco and Latin rhythms. He eventually stopped playing Django gypsy festivals around the world. HIs last was 2008 in San Francisco. Lulo prefers to perform at world music festivals. His travels have taken him to such far-flung regions as Africa and India and every stop expands his musical tastes.

"I'm like a cook. I mix different stuff together," he said. "My style always changes a little bit, every two or three years, because of playing with so many different musicians from so many different places."

In recent years, Reinhardt has joined other top guitarists on the International Guitar Night tours, playing solo, as well as in various combinations.

"With International Guitar Night, you always hear different styles. We can learn from each other. And that's what I want. With this tour, you hear some riffs you've never heard before. It's always big fun," Lulo said.

His six-piece group, the Lulo Reinhardt Latin Swing Project, showcases his talents as a composer, as well as guitarist. Their eight CDs, containing more than 120 original songs, show a definite evolution, stylistically, moving from Easy Listening fare to more Latin and African flavors.

"It can't stay the same," Lulo said. "If you listen to Django Reinhardt, he changed so much. In the end, he was playing like bebop, free jazz. At the end of the 40s, into the 50s, that music came out and Django said, "I'll never play that on guitar. I don't like that music."

Then while flying to America, the neck on Django's acoustic guitar broke. Someone handed him an electric guitar. "He had never played electric and he never knew that the guitar could be so loud. He was shocked, like a little child. So then he changed his style totally.

"When you listen to Django's later stuff with the electric guitar, it was like Pat Metheny today. So when people are focused on the old swing and traditional material, I say, ‘Listen to Django. He changed every five years.' That's what I want to do, also. I can't play the same music or the same styles as 10 years ago."

Lulo, 56, continues to tour extensively, though he is also busy preparing to produce a documentary on the history of his gypsy people. His latest album teams him with Belarus guitarist Yuliya Lonskaya.

"When I play live now, it's fine. People know me as the different Reinhardt. And they accept me like this. That's important."

For more on this artist, visit www.lulo-reinhardt.com.