Artillerie Lourde is a Gypsy jazz instrumental tune associated with Django Reinhardt. Django recorded it six times between 1944 and 1950 in Paris, Brussels, and Rome, making it a fixture of his wartime and postwar sessions. The earliest recording was made on 3 November 1944 in Paris and was issued on 2SW 401-1, with later releases on Fremeaux FA 312 and other labels. Other notable sessions include a 25 February 1945 Paris concert with Django Reinhardt et son Orchestre, a November 1947 Paris session in Souvenirs de Django Reinhardt, a January–February 1949 Rome session with Stephane Grappelly, and a December 1948 Brussels concert featuring Hubert Rostaing. The tune appears on several releases over the years, including Souvenirs de Django Reinhardt and Django Reinhardt et son Orchestre (Concert), and has been transcribed and performed by modern players such as Joscho Stephan. The accompanying transcription shows a recurring chord cycle built around C, Am7, Ab7, and G7, reflecting Django's lively swing style.
