Swing 41 is a jazz gypsy swing tune by Django Reinhardt and is part of his Swing series that includes Swing ’39 and Swing ’42. It was recorded twice in Paris, first in December 1940 with Hubert Rostaing on clarinet, Alix Combelle on clarinet/tenor, Django and Joseph Reinhardt on guitars, Tony Rovira on bass, and Pierre Fouad on drums; a second recording followed in August 1947 with Django on guitar, Maurice Meunier on clarinet, Eugene Vees on guitar, Emmanuel Soudieux on bass, and Andre Jourdan on drums. The 1940 version features an arrangement that harmonizes the melody and adds fills, with the head out in the key of Ab, and there are lead sheets and transcriptions in multiple formats for study. Genre wise the tune sits squarely in jazz and gypsy swing, reflecting Django’s distinctive Quintette style. Additional material includes a 1943 accordion version by Tony Murena and a play along rhythm track by Pierre Nauleau for practice.
