ALAIN BREITENBACH (HAVANA SWING MANOUCHE BAND FROM SCOTLAND.

I WAS VERY SAD TO HEAR OF SCHNUKENACK REINHARDT'S DEATH IN 2006. I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT IT UNTIL I PLAYED A GUITAR FESTIVAL IN THE SHETLAND ISLANDS ON THE 18-19TH SEPT 2009 ALONGSIDE LULO REINHARDT WHICH IS A NEPHEW OF THE LATE SCHNUKENACK. HE TOLD ME ABOUT HIS DEATH.

MY MEMORIES OF THE SCHNUKENACK REINHARDT BAND WAS DURING A VOYAGE TO GERMANY, I WAS STAYING WITH FRIENDS IN FRIBOURG NEAR THE SWARZWALD   AND WENT TO SEE A CONCERT OF THE BAND IN A CONCERT HALL IN FRIBOURG AND WAS TOTALLY AMAZED AT THE QUALITY AND INTEGRITY OF THE PLAYING OF THE WHOLE BAND, I CANNOT RECALL HOW MANY PLAYERS THERE WERE BUT IS WAS FANTASTIC. AFTER THE CONCERT I GOT TO MEET THE REINHARDT FAMILY WHICH WERE STILL LIVING IN HORSE DRAWN CARAVANS AND WAITING OUTSIDE THE CONCERT HALL FOR THE PLAYERS. THIS CONCERT INSPIRED ME AND THEN I DECIDED THAT I SHOULD HAVE MY VERY OWN MANOUCHE INSPIRED BAND IN THE STYLE OF DJANGO REINHARDT. SINCE THEN I HAVE BEEN PLAYING AT FESTIVALS AND CONCERTS WITH MY BAND HAVANASWING AND HOPEFULLY IT MAKES PEOPLE HAPPY TO HEAR THIS VERY UNUSUAL STYLE OF MUSIC. OH AND ALSO I MUST THANK THE GREAT LATE DJANGO WHO IS ALSO UP IN THE HEAVENS FOR INSPIRING US ALL AND GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE GIFT TO UNDERSTAND AND PLAY MANOUCHE SWING.

MY OWN ROOTS ARE VERY MUCH MANOUCHE AS MY GRANDFATHER'S FAMILY ON MY MOTHER'S SIDE WERE FROM MONS IN BELGIUM, HE WAS BORN IN FRANCE AND HIS SURNAME WAS GEERS.

ON MY FATHER'S SIDE THEY ORIGINATED FROM ALSACE BISCHWILLER AND HAGUENAU, AND LIVED MOST OF THEIR LIVES IN NORMANDY IN FRANCE.

SCHNUKENACK WILL ALWAYS LIVE IN MY MEMORY AS WELL AS DJANGO AND ALSO THANK YOU LULO. LET'S JUST KEEP THIS GREAT MUSIC ALIVE.

MOST SINCERELY
ALAIN BREITENBACH (WWW.HAVANASWING.COM)