First released in 1994 and 1996, these two now-legendary albums have equal reputations as being both rare and major works in the genre they incarnate to perfection. The spirit of Django Reinhardt guides the playing of Fapy Lafertin: his choruses all show a rare elegance and precision together with a rhythmic pulse second to none, which make Lafertin more than a mere heir to the Master. Reissued in 2012 through Lejazzetal, this edition, re-mastered and augmented, presents Swing Guitar and Hungaria, recorded under pre-war conditions (direct sound-takes encircling a Thirties’ mic) and produced by Dave Kelbie, an unavoidable iconoclast and jazz figure, and probably the genre’s greatest producer (with credits including Evan Christopher’s Django à la Créole, Tcha Limberger etc.) Swing Guitar and Hungaria are indispensible to any jazz fan’s collection. Benjamin GOLDENSTEIN & Augustin BONDOUX