DARK EYES
When my profound passion for the Manouches and their culture started is still somewhat obscure to me. Vaguely I remember the magical attraction of the logo printed on the “Gitanes” cigarette pack the old man down the road of the French village I grew up in used to smoke as he sat in the sun sipping on his four o’clock Pastis.
My first clear recollection of gypsy beauty was certainly the dark eyes Géraldine had. This ravishing young Manouche I had as a neighbor drove my young man’s heart crazy. When I finally got the chance to kiss her, I knew the love for the traveling people was here to stay…
A small lifetime later, I am roaming the world with my television camera, while Géraldine got married and lovingly nurses her children some ten miles away from where I first met her.
And then, I saw a documentary about young Sinti guitar legend Jimmy Rosenberg, and my passion got a goal…. I was going to play the guitar like a gypsy, or at least I would try to.
MY JOURNEY THROUGH GYPSY JAZZ
Filmmaking:
Documentary ‘Le Weekend’ I shot and directed about Thomas Baggerman and his Gypsy Jazz ensemble. It portrays the ambition and determination the young musicians have while working on their debut album. The film also tells the story of passion and brotherhood on the holy grounds of Samois sur Seine, near Paris. Gypsy Jazz lovers from all over the globe gather there once a year to honor the legacy of guitar legend Django Reinhardt.
Taking lessons in guitar and violin from the best players and teachers in the genre, like:
Paulus Schäfer, Stochelo Rosenberg, Tim Kliphuis, Thomas and Max Baggerman, Fapy Lafertin, Christiaan van Hemert, Romino Grunholz, Filippo D’Al Asta, Eva Slongo, Tcha Limberger, Yaakov Hoter, Sébastien Dorotte, Clément Reboul, Robin Nolan, Ian Date, Jimmy Grant, Neil Corkery, Alexandre Cavaliere, Karin van Kooten, Reinier Voet, Caroline Bugala, Simon Ort, Gismo Graf, Popy Basily, Xander Nichting, and many others…
© Alexander Koning 2026. All rights reserved.