Thursday, January 28, 2010

Just a few days BEFORE 65 years ago today (Auschwitz liberation day), my father, Abraham Siedlecki (Auschwitz # 111855) escaped from Auschwitz with two friends - Jakob Strauss and Rachmiel Hochman. The rest is commentary.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010


"NEW" GYPSY JAZZ VIDS POSTED TO YOUTUBE:
IT'S NOT *JUST* ABOUT THE MUSIC!

In case you were not able to celebrate Django Reinhardt's 100th birthday with a musical melee, please visit:


You will find four vid clips from the festivities in Brooklyn from Stephane Wrembel's "Django-A-Go-Go" which featured the music of the master AND discussion about the plight of Gypsies in Europe, and what kind of activism can be done in the USA to help pressure governments to protect and preserve Gypsy culture. Roma spokesman and activist (and virtuoso guitarist/Django descendant) Maie Bittel articulated some of these points to the enthusiastic audience. He said that the music of Gypsies has never been more popular than it is right now; however, times have never been as bad as they have in some of the  EU member countries for Gypsies. Mr. Bittel appealed to the governments to allow and protect the Gypsy culture. He is a guitar star in his own right. DON'T MISS the vids, which were created by my wonderful and talented daughter, Miriam.  :)

Here's my caption for the vid clips at http://www.youtube.com/guitargirl4scrabble  -- 

Django A Go Go at Barbes in Park Slope, Brooklyn on Sunday, Jan. 24, 2010 featured Stephane Wrembel, Maie Bittel, Biel Ballester, Ted Gottsegen's amazing guitar, "Babik" plus others onstage for a great jam and musical discourse and discussion about the plight of gypsies, particularly in Europe.

Thursday, January 07, 2010