Manouche jazz is a musical genre (or musical idiom) pioneered by Django Reinhardt, a French-Romani jazz guitarist and composer who lived from 1910 to 1953. He developed manouche jazz in collaboration with Stéphane Grappelli after being inspired by American jazz musicians, and the genre is notable for its percussive guitars, virtuosic lead guitarists, and reliance on acoustic instruments. Joseph and Nathan are joined by Kelly from the Significant Lovers podcast to discuss the genre. 

This is the first installment of a four part series that explores the cultural figure of the Bohemian and its origins. The French believed that the Romani people came from Bohemia when they first arrived in their country, and the term “Bohemian” meant “Romani” for several centuries. “Bohemian” came to be associated with all of the stereotypes of the Romani people (positive and negative) before coming to only be associated with positive Romani stereotypes by the end of the 20th century: artsy, creative, free-spirited, and prone to wanderlust.

Links:

Significant Lovers Spotify

Significant Lovers Instagram

Manouche Jazz Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5yZf7mGsSpZteSa41sUD84?si=0da77b26e481443c  

Rendezvous A Paris (Starbucks) playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0Z8SiyBtkpaHaB3LFHC9wf?si=4de387e2bb20429e 

Gypsy Jazz: in Search of Django Reinhardt and the Soul of Gypsy Swing by Michael Dregni 

#8 Michael Dregni - The Life and Times of Django Reinhardt

Stéphane Grappelli - His Life and Legacy: Part One. Gypsy Jazz Violinist with/after Django Reinhardt

Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd

Bohemianism - In Our Time (BBC)

Artwork:

Django Reinhardt

Recorded on 6/29/2025