Diz Disley

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Diz Disley at the White Bear
Diz Disley at the White Bear

William C. Disley (known as Diz Disley) (27 May 1931) is a Canadian/British jazz guitarist and graphic designer. He is best known for his jazz guitar playing, strongly influenced by Django Reinhardt, and for his collaborations with the violinist Stéphane Grappelli.

Disley was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada but was brought up in Wales and northern England. In his childhood, he learnt to play the banjo, but took up the jazz guitar at the age of 14, after hearing the playing of Django Reinhardt.

In the 1970s, he was influential in persuading Stéphane Grappelli to return to playing public performances. They played together at the Cambridge Folk Festival and this began a lengthy collaboration between Disley and Grappelli, including tours of Australia, Europe and the USA.

Contents

[edit] Partial discography

[edit] Diz Disley

  • Live at the White Bear

[edit] Dave Swarbrick, Martin Carthy and Diz Disley

  • Rags, Reels & Airs (1967), Topic

[edit] Stephane Grappelli & The Diz Disley Trio

  • Live at Corby Festival Hall (1975)
  • Shades of Django (1989), MPS Records
  • Live At The Cambridge Folk Festival (2000)
  • Violinspiration, (2006), Verve Records