The first day, I honestly wasn’t sure I was going to make it. Between emails from Transavia asking me to give up my seat, a two-hour line just to check my bag, and barely getting to the gate in time… it was a close one.Luckily, I’ve developed a deep fear of missing flights over the years, so I always show up extra early ✈️ If you’ve never been to Grappelli-Django Camp, I can’t recommend it enough. Tim Kliphuisbrings together incredible musicians and teachers—and just as importantly, people who are genuinely great to be around. That combination creates such a positive atmosphere for both students and faculty. It’s truly a win-win. It’s always a privilege and an honor to share the music of Django Reinhardt with so many wonderful people, both in Europe and the US 🇺🇸 If getting to Europe feels like too much, and you’re experiencing a little FOMO—Tim, Adrien Chevalier, and I are hosting the first US edition of Grappelli-Django Camp at the Ashokan Center in Olive Bridge, NY, February 20–22. It was also an honor to share the stage with Reinier Voet for a few tunes. One of the very first solos I ever transcribed (almost 20 years ago!) was “Some Of These Days” played by Jimmy Rosenberg, featuring a rhythm section with two people I’m lucky to now call friends—Simon Planting and Reinier Voet.

Any one try one? Believe it or not the best sound I currently have is a John Le Voi with a bigtone - most people seem to dislike the bigtone. I saw someone in Paris using a Peche and I like the volume control - and although it's not quite acoustic I liked the sound. I have a CS Censor on my Duffel which sounds pretty good and I prefer the Duffel 14 fret over my le Voi 12 fret but the amplified sound is what matters on a gig. Jerome Duffel recommended the kleio 47. I believe one of the Oregon guys was using one at your camp Jimmy?

Here's something interesting from Joscho: https://youtu.be/fwhXnBNawWI?t=659 When he plays triplets on the same string he always plays the first note of the triplet with a down stroke. So on the same string, two triplets are DUDDUD. It really gives you the attack you want on the first note of the triplet.

Jimmy - this is a Django lick from Si Tu Savais - 1947. Would you finger that starting with the index finger on fret 7 on the B string? We were discussing this elsewhere. You might need to zoom in to see the entire lick.

Back home until January!! (Finally a break from travelling!!) I've been drilling things with the metronome... Still not perfect... But give it another week! I find it's best to set goals, and work on things to meet the goals... I'm almost up to tempo with Jimmy Rosenebergs version of "Chega De Saudade"