Willie Nelson - Django documentary

[John Kavanagh]

I saw this on TV in Montreal (probably Vermont PBS) more than fifteen years ago and never been able to track it down. It was a documentary about Django Reinhardt and his influence on Western Swing, with interviews of a whole lot of musicians and some film clips of Django.

Alternating with this were concert clips of Willie Nelson playing with this killer hot quintet, all jazz instrumentals Django style. It was the first I realised what a fine guitar player Nelson is, The other soloist was a gypsy-looking man playing a resonator tenor guitar. It was very good, but I didn't even see the whole thing, and I've never been able to track it down.

Anybody else see this? Any idea how to get a copy of it, VHS or disc?

[Steve Pacholl]

Never saw the documentary in question, but..

Several years ago, the first time I met Willie I had the opportunity to talk with him about his jazz influences - specificaly Django.

Willie's eyes lit up and he had a big smile when I asked the question. He said not many ask him that kink of question. He then asked if I had time to sit down and talk. Of course I did and I wish I had a recorder. We ended up talking for a at least 30 minutes.

My actual question was, How, growing up in rural TX how did he become influenced by so many jazz greats, specifically Django?

Willie's short answer was that while growing up with his grandparents, there was a lot of musical influnce (well documented) and his grandfather had a good size colletion of 78 rpm records and frequently brought home new ones. A lot of jazz, polka and early western swing. He would listen to these records over and over and styled much of his own guitar playing based on what he was hearing. Django was on of his favorites.

Willie then proceeded to tell me about the first bands he played in, the differnet musicians he met and learned from and becoming influenced by Bob Wills.

Like I said, I wish I had a recorder. It was a great experience for and got an answer to the question I always wanted to ask about the Willie and Django connection.

[Dave Giegerich]

It may have been Paul Buskirk on resonator tenor guitar. He's on Willie's Somewhere Over The Rainbow lp and Willie mentioned him as friend and mentor in his autobiography.