My insane love for the music of Django Reinhardt comes from afar, and, to tell the truth, was born in an unusual way compared to how many become familiar with this genius' music, most being introduced to this mythical figure through almost ritualistic methods by people who are already Django "disciples". I wasn't born in a gypsy nomad camp at the doors of a Central European city. Instead, I am a "gadje" (that is, a "non-gypsy" in the ROM language) and, what's more, I am the son of non-musicians, even if they do tell me that I had a paternal grandmother who used to strum away on the mandolin and a maternal grandfather who loved to imitate his idol Beniamino Gigli. In this cd "Django New Directions", which coincides with the centenary of Django's birth, my intention is to put on a pedestal not so much his prodigious guitar technique, already lauded by so many extraordinary artists, but his brilliant compositional talent. Reinhardt's music is so far ahead of its time that it seems avant-garde even today. It never fails to stimulate me. So... this is Django, seen from my perspective: a genius composer who, unaware of the laws and rules of music of his time, was inevitably.... 100 years ahead of everyone... modern, futuristic and therefore current.