SWING GUITARS - Free Jazz Leadsheet

"Swing Guitars" is a 1936 instrumental composed by Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli for the Quintette du Hot Club de France. The first recording took place in Paris on November 25, 1936, featuring Reinhardt and Grappelli alongside the classic all-string rhythm section that defined the ensemble’s signature gypsy swing style.

The piece has since remained a core item in Reinhardt’s catalog and is frequently revisited by contemporary gypsy jazz musicians. Built on a bright, dance-oriented swing pulse, the tune highlights rapid melodic exchanges between violin and guitar, supported by the characteristic “la pompe” rhythm. Its cheerful mood and interwoven lead lines capture the early spirit of European jazz and its embrace of acoustic virtuosity.