Stéphane Grappelli

Bio

Stéphane Grappelli (1908–1997) was a French jazz violinist whose elegant phrasing and improvisational flair helped establish the violin as a solo instrument in jazz. Born in Paris, he rose to prominence in the 1930s as co-founder, with guitarist Django Reinhardt, of the Quintette du Hot Club de France, whose recordings remain cornerstones of European swing. After World War II he maintained an international career, collaborating with artists from Yehudi Menuhin to Oscar Peterson and recording dozens of albums that blended swing, bebop, and French popular song. Grappelli’s warm tone and rhythmic precision influenced generations of jazz and crossover string players.