Louis Vola

Louis Vola (La Seyne-sur-Mer, France, 6 July 1902 – 15 August 1990, Paris), was a French double-bassist known for his work with the Quintette du Hot Club de France. He is the godfather of guitarist Francois Vola.

As well as the Hot Club de France, Vola played bass for Ray Ventura, Duke Ellington and singer Charles Trenet. He was also an accomplished accordionist.

In 1934 he was a founding member of the Quintette du Hot Club de France. In a 1976 interview, Vola recalled that he discovered Joseph and Django Reinhardt playing guitars together on a beach at Toulon. Vola invited them to play with his band. Violinist Stéphane Grappelli and guitarist Roger Chaput were members of Vola's jazz ensemble. Vola later left the Quintette but eventually rejoined.

Birth and Death Data: Born July 6, 1902 (La Seyne-sur-Mer), Died August 15, 1990 (Paris)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1935 - 1938

Roles Represented in DAHR: string bass

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 33 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Gramophone 0LA1290 10-in. 10/15/1936 Nagasaki Stephane Grappelli ; Quintette du Hot Club de France ; Django Reinhardt Jazz/dance sextet instrumentalist, string bass  
Gramophone 0LA1291 10-in. 10/15/1936 Swing guitars Stephane Grappelli ; Quintette du Hot Club de France ; Django Reinhardt Jazz/dance sextet instrumentalist, string bass  
Gramophone 0LA1292 10-in. 10/15/1936 Georgia on my mind Quintette du Hot Club de France ; Freddy Taylor Jazz/dance ensemble, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, string bass  
Gramophone 0LA1293 10-in. 10/15/1936 Shine Stephane Grappelli ; Quintette du Hot Club de France ; Django Reinhardt ; Freddy Taylor Jazz/dance sextet, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, string bass  
Gramophone 0LA1702 10-in. 4/21/1937 Exactly like you Quintette du Hot Club de France Jazz/dance quintet instrumentalist, string bass  
Gramophone 0LA1704 10-in. 4/21/1937 You're driving me crazy Quintette du Hot Club de France Jazz/dance quintet instrumentalist, string bass  
Gramophone 0LA1990 10-in. 11/25/1937 Minor's swing Quintette du Hot Club de France Jazz/dance quintet instrumentalist, string bass  
Gramophone 0LA1991 10-in. 11/25/1937 Viper's dream Quintette du Hot Club de France Jazz/dance quintet instrumentalist, string bass  
Gramophone 0LA1994 10-in. 12/7/1937 Paramount stomp Quintette du Hot Club de France Jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, string bass  
Gramophone 0LA1995 10-in. 12/7/1937 Swinging with Django Quintette du Hot Club de France Jazz/dance ensemble instrumentalist, string bass  
Columbia (U.K.) CL5487 10-in. 10/18/1935 Cette chanson est pour vous Jean Sablon Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, string bass  
Columbia (U.K.) CL5518 10-in. 12/7/1935 Rendez-vous sous la pluie Jean Sablon Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, string bass  
Columbia (U.K.) CL6533 10-in. 1/19/1938 C'est le début d'une aventure Stephane Grappelli ; Pills et Tabet ; Georges Tabet ; Louis Vola Male vocal duet, with piano, violin and bass instrumentalist, string bass  
Columbia (U.K.) CL6534 10-in. 1/19/1938 Quand on a mal aux dents Stephane Grappelli ; Pills et Tabet ; Georges Tabet ; Louis Vola Male vocal duet, with piano, violin and bass instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 2009HPP 10-in. 9/30/1935 St. Louis blues Stephane Grappelli ; Django Reinhardt instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 2035HPP 10-in. October 1935 Limehouse blues Stephane Grappelli ; Django Reinhardt instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 2079HPP 10-in. 10/21/1935 I've found a new baby Stephane Grappelli ; Django Reinhardt instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 2081HPP 10-in. 10/21/1935 China boy Stephane Grappelli ; Django Reinhardt instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 2082HPP 10-in. 10/21/1935 Moonglow Stephane Grappelli ; Django Reinhardt instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 2083HPP 10-in. 10/21/1935 It don't mean a thing Stephane Grappelli ; Django Reinhardt instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca DTB 3523 10-in. 1/31/1938 Honeysuckle rose Quintette du Hot Club de France instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca DTB 3524 10-in. 1/31/1938 Sweet Georgia Brown Quintette du Hot Club de France instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca DTB 3525 10-in. 1/31/1938 Night and day Quintette du Hot Club de France instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca DTB 3527 10-in. 1/31/1938 Souvenirs Quintette du Hot Club de France instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca DTB 3528 10-in. 1/31/1938 Daphne Quintette du Hot Club de France instrumentalist, string bass  
(Results 1-25 of 33 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Vola, Louis," accessed November 9, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/112239.

Vola, Louis. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 9, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/112239.

"Vola, Louis." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 9 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/112239

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