Mandino Reinhardt has asked me to pass on to everyone information regarding Djangos last guitar. Naguine, Djangos partner, had let the Musee de la Musique in Paris have the last of Djangos famous Selmer guitars to display in honour of the music and the man. What a piece of history - a treasured icon of the Manouche community, a link to the very originator of European jazz, an instrument that was owned, loved and played by the legend himself and a rarity and fine example of this important style of guitar in its own right.

How important and/or interesting would you consider Djangos guitar to be? - Louis Armstrongs trumpet? - Beethovens piano? - John Lennons Epiphone? - Miles Davis horn? - Jimi Hendrixs Stratocaster? Apparantely the Conservateur thinks not and has relegated it to the storerooms!

This can't be right and I have promised Mandino to help in whatever way I can. An email, questioning the museums short sightedness with regard to such a 'peoples' treasure, from each of us, (and as many others as we can inform), could change things. At the L'Esprit Manouche festival the other weekend it was shown that this is not a dead and forgotten movement - they need reminding!

The email address for the museum is musee@cite-musique.fr and the man to harass is Frédéric Dassas, directeur du musée de la musique. If you can send them an email of your own, or use something similar to the one below I, Mandino and the Manouche community, would be most grateful.

Regards,
Dave Alexander
Festival Director
L'Esprit Manouche

PS I have also attached a letter from Mandino to the museum.

Sample email :

For the attention of Frédéric Dassas,
directeur du Musée de la Musique.
Musée de la Musique
221 ave Jean Jaurès
75019 PARIS

Dear Sir,
I am most concerned to hear that the last guitar owned by Django Reinhardt has been withdrawn from display at your museum.

Surely the memory of Europes most influential contribution to the world of jazz is of some value in Paris - the city the rest of the world will always associate with the name of Django?

I ask you to reconsider your decision. There is an international upsurge of interest in the style of music originated by Django Reinhardt, Stephane Grapelli and the Hot Club de France - this year has marked the 50th anniversary of the death of Django and festivals have been held worldwide to commemorate his memory. To deny access to this important piece of European musical history to the new generations discovering their 'roots' and the importance of European culture seems wrong.

I would value a reply and your comments regarding this matter.
Yours faithfully,

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