GYPSY JAZZ IMPROVISATION / GUITAR / VIOLIN
Sometimes words and images get too confusing. In a fast-paced world, obese with information, it's easy to be misunderstood, misinterpreted or misquoted. In these times, when I have the feeling silence should speak louder than words, I seek refuge in Gypsy Jazz Improvisation. A style of music played by the Sinti and Manouche, who often do not speak much, but can make their instruments sing from the heart like no one else can.
DARK EYES
When and where my profound passion for Roma and their culture started is still obscure to me. Vaguely, I remember the magical attraction of the logo printed on the “Gitanes” (french for gypsy woman) cigarette pack the old man down our road used to smoke while sipping on his four o’clock Pastis. But my first clear recalling of Gypsy beauty certainly were the “dark eyes” Géraldine had. This ravishing young Manouche I was lucky enough to have as a neighbor while I was living in a tiny village in the south of France drove my young man’s heart and mind crazy. And when I finally got the chance to kiss her, I knew the love for the roaming people was here to stay…..
A small lifetime later, I am the one roaming the world with my television camera making reports on all the wonderful as well as scary places on our planet, thirsty to understand humankind, and it’s sometimes strange behavior while Géraldine got married and lovingly nurses her children some ten miles away from where I first met her.
My passion for music starts to evolve, and I find myself playing loud Balkan Beats on the car stereo, longing for vodka drenched nights on a riverside along the Donau. The silence, violently smothered by drunken trumpet players and skinny vagabond dogs howling at a swollen moon.
And then; all of a sudden; along came a documentary about young Sinti guitar legend Jimmy Rosenberg called : De Vader de Zoon en het Talent’ .and my passion got a goal…. I was going to play the guitar like a Gypsy, or at least I would try to.
Le Weekend: Short Documentary about Gypsy Jazz Documentary about Thomas Baggerman and his Gypsy Jazz ensemble. It portrays the ambition and determination the young musicians have while working on their debut album, "Le Weekend". It 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.
BEFORE TAKING LESSONS IN GUITAR AND VIOLIN FROM THE BEST PLAYERS AND TEACHERS IN THE GENRE, LIKE:
Paulus Schäfer, Stochelo Rosenberg, Tim Kliphuis, Thomas Baggerman, Fapy Lafertin, Christiaan van Hemert, Romino Grunholz, Fillipo D'Al Asta, Eva Slongo, Yaakov Hoter, Sébastien Dorotte, Reinier Voet, Caroline Bugala, Simon Ort, Gismo Graf, Popy Basily, Xander Nichting and many others...
BEFORE TAKING LESSONS IN GUITAR AND VIOLIN FROM THE BEST PLAYERS AND TEACHERS IN THE GENRE, LIKE:
Paulus Schäfer, Stochelo Rosenberg, Tim Kliphuis, Thomas Baggerman, Fapy Lafertin, Christiaan van Hemert, Romino Grunholz, Fillipo D'Al Asta, Eva Slongo, Yaakov Hoter, Sébastien Dorotte, Reinier Voet, Caroline Bugala, Simon Ort, Gismo Graf, Popy Basily, Xander Nichting and many others...
Teachers playing 'CHINA BOY' at the Paulus Schäfer Sinti Jazz Guitar Camp -Gerwen 2023
And I have been documenting my musical growth:
