André Lluis

André Lluis was a prominent French clarinetist who was born in Béziers in 1910. He is best remembered for his collaboration with the legendary gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt. Lluis attended the Lycee Henri IV in Béziers and the Conservatory in Toulouse, where he honed his skills as a clarinetist before moving to Paris at the age of 18.

Lluis started his career as a clarinetist in Paris, where he played in various clubs and music halls. In the early 1930s, he became associated with the Quintette du Hot Club de France, a legendary ensemble that featured Reinhardt on guitar and Stéphane Grappelli on violin. After the departure of Hubert Rostaing from the group, Lluis was asked to join the Quintette and became a prominent member of the ensemble.

Lluis played with the Quintette for several years, and his collaboration with Reinhardt resulted in some of the most iconic recordings in the history of gypsy jazz. His unique style of playing, which blended elements of classical music and jazz, made him a highly sought-after musician in Paris’s vibrant music scene.

One of Lluis’s most memorable performances was his rendition of the song “Manoir de mes rêves” (also known as “Django’s Castle”) with Gérard Lévêque, another prominent French clarinetist. The two musicians played in a duo on this track, which has become one of the most beloved recordings in the gypsy jazz canon.

In 1943, Lluis left the Quintette and was replaced by Lévêque. Despite leaving the ensemble, Lluis continued to play and record music throughout the 1940s and 1950s. He collaborated with several prominent French musicians, including the accordionist Yvette Horner and the pianist Bernard Peiffer.

Lluis’s discography includes several iconic recordings, such as “Manoir de mes rêves,” “Nuages,” and “Daphné.” His playing style, which blended elements of classical music and jazz, has influenced generations of clarinetists and jazz musicians. Lluis’s contributions to gypsy jazz and the wider world of jazz have cemented his place as one of the most important French clarinetists of the 20th century.