Paul “Tchan Tchou” Vidal was a French guitarist born on November 22, 1923, in Aix-en-Provence, Bouches-du-Rhône. He came from a family of musicians; his father was a guitarist who played with the legendary Django Reinhardt. It was under his father’s guidance that Vidal first picked up the guitar at the age of nine.
In 1940, Vidal formed the “Hot Club de Lyon” with a group of like-minded musicians, inspired by the music of Django Reinhardt and the American jazz of the time. This group played in the style of “jazz manouche,” a unique style of jazz that was popular in France at the time. Jazz manouche, or “gypsy jazz,” is characterized by the use of stringed instruments like the guitar and violin, and a distinct rhythmic style.
Vidal began recording in 1960 and quickly established himself as one of the most important guitarists in the jazz manouche scene. He played with some of the biggest names in the genre, including Tony Fallone, with whom he formed a successful duo. He also had Moreno Winterstein playing in his group for several years.
While Vidal stayed true to the swing manouche style of his father’s generation, he also experimented with other genres. He improvised on jazz standards and also dabbled in boleros, rumbas, and tangos, bringing his unique flair to each style. His versatility as a musician was evident in his compositions, which ranged from swing waltzes to more experimental pieces.
La gitane, one of Vidal’s most famous compositions, is a perfect example of his skill as a composer and musician. This swing waltz has remained a staple of the jazz manouche repertoire and is still played by musicians around the world today.
Despite his contributions to the jazz manouche scene, Vidal remained relatively unknown outside of France. However, his impact on the genre cannot be overstated. He played with some of the biggest names in jazz manouche, including Django Reinhardt’s son Babik, and his recordings continue to inspire new generations of musicians.
