Haiti | Paste Magazine | Donate | Listen

Paste Magazine, well known as a source of indie "cool" in the music world, has made donating to disaster relief for beleaguered Haiti even easier. The initiative offers free music downloads from a vault of 250 songs to those who donate via the Songs for Haiti drive, and, rather remarkably, as a thank you gift to those who have contributed via other organizations.

This does not mean helping should always be rewarded. This is technology working for the greater good. It is "on your honor" so please don't abuse it; just use it to do some good for our neighbors in El Caribe.

Songs for Haiti

By Another Name...

Again, it's high time to change this space's name, if not for you then for me. The last cycle was an attempt to 'audi alteram partem' which was meant to give rise to commentary around here. Well, I'm not sure it did that, but in any case, I think traffic was up due to a great respect for German automotive engineering (a nice trick to emply now that I know it!).

So, this time I'll go with the title 'vade mecum' which roughly translates into "go with me" but that take on the Latin phrase could be a little misleading. It's not a plea; instead it's a definition for what this gathering of tidbits has become to me. It's something that's following me around; conversely, sometimes I'm the one following the interests that arise. In the sense that a journal or a handbook goes with you, so too does this blog 'vade mecum'.

However I dissect it, this place is slowly evolving into something, and I suppose I'll try to take a little pride in that. My continued thanks to those of you who come around to visit, read, listen or otherwise open your minds here.

Jean Baptiste Reinhardt

...that's Django to you and me!

The man, the legend would have turned 100 this weekend and don't I just wish he had had the longevity of masters (genre jumping here) like Chucho Valdés or Doc Watson. There are many out there who've researched and written on the world's most respected and most emulated Romany, so follow the links below to read more and listen to Django's recorded legacy.

For more info and a chance to listen:

Musical Interlude - excellent article for bmj.com

Django Reinhardt - Joseph Dinkins article for redhotjazz.com

Sample tracks - some samples from 7digital.com

Django Radio - all gypsy jazz on last.fm