RENOWNED MUSICIAN HAS TO LEAVE COUNTRY Brasilian harmonica-player Alex Rossi (39) has been arrested yesterday in Antwerp and was transferred to the closed transit center near Zaventem. He has to leave the country. Alexander “Alex” Rossi is not just any musician. He released 4 CD’s and on one of them, one can find commending credits, written by none other than Toots Thielemans. Rossi has toured all over the world and played with blues- and jazz greats like Buddy Guy and Joshua Redman. “NEVER LIVED ON UNEMPLOYMENT PAY” The Brasilian musician came to Antwerp a few years ago. “I never lived on unemployment pay one single day”, he explicitly states when we talk to him on the telephone at the transit center. “I always got along teaching and playing concerts”. His application for a residence permit was declined one and a half years ago. His solicitor’s appeal was dismissed. “I have learnt about this just now”, Rossi says. Strangest thing about the whole story is that he just moved to Amsterdam, where his girlfriend since one and a half years, lives. “I just came to Antwerp once to teach. I had already moved all my things”, he says. Apparently, somebody denounced me. All of a sudden, the police showed up at my door. They cuffed me and deported me, like a common criminal”. DESPERATE Rossi was deported to the closed center near Zaventem. “I want to emphasise that the people here are really friendly and helpful”, Rossi says. “But I’m completely desperate. I have an important concert in Amsterdam next week Friday. I wouldn’t have been any trouble to Belgium anyway, since I have moved to Amsterdam now. Can’t anybody help me?” Rossi tried to get in touch with his solicitor in vain yesterday, also his laywer didn’t respond to any of our calls. André Delaet from Antwerp, proprietor of a music shop in Leuven, who knows Rossi well, doesn’t get it. “This is a musician of international repute, who never was any burden to anybody. He made music for “The Zigzag Kid”, a movie by Vincent Bal, with Isabella Rosselline. Do they have to carry off somebody like that in this way?”
Posted on: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 11:54:23 +0000
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