Django Reinhardt, Aquarium, New York, N.Y., ca. Nov. 1946. Jean Reinhardt (1910-1953), known by his stage name Django Reinhardt, was a Belgian-born Romani-French jazz guitarist and composer. With violinist Stéphane Grappelli, Reinhardt formed the Paris-based Quintette du Hot Club de France in 1934. The group was among the first to play jazz that featured the guitar as a lead instrument. Reinhardt recorded in France with many visiting American musicians, including Coleman Hawkins and Benny Carter, and briefly toured the United States with Duke Ellington's orchestra in 1946.