»Blue Drag«

To write too much about Django Reinhardt at this point would be carrying owls to Athens…. Or would have to fill twenty pages. The French guitarist, composer and bandleader was the founder of European jazz and created Gipsy Swing by combining 1920s New Orleans jazz, French valses musettes and the traditional playing style of the Sinti. His guitar playing is still a role model and incentive today.

I have chosen a wonderful blues that proves how blues and swing can be combined, a special gift of Django Reinhardt. And supplement the original with a recent vocal recording of the “Girls From Mars” and their lyrics.

I said blue drag,
It sure is draggin’ me down:
I’m almost scraping the ground
When I hear that blue drag.
Slow drag,
It’s got that new lazy swing;
I crave that new crazy swing;
I must have my blue drag!
Oh that rhythm, blue rhythm,
has brought me A peculiar phase;
Oh that rhythm, blue rhythm,
has brought me Peculiar days.
I can’t get enough of blue drag;
You’ve got my soul on fire;
I never tire of that low down blue drag.
Now I said “blue drag”,
It sure is draggin’ me down:
I’m almost scraping the ground
When I hear that blue drag.
Slow drag, It’s got that new lazy swing;
I crave that new crazy swing;
I must have my blue drag!
Oh that rhythm, blue rhythm,
has brought me A peculiar phase;
Oh that rhythm, blue rhythm,
has brought me Peculiar days.
Blue drag, You’ve got my soul on fire;
Oh, I never tire of that low down blue drag.
I said that low down,
I said that low down,
I said that low down blue drag.

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Jochen Axer, supporter of King Georg and promoter of many other jazz projects via the Cologne Jazz Supporters, presents one of his favorites here every Sunday.