Joseph (Jimmy) Rosenberg (born 10th April 1980 in Helmond) is a Dutch musician (guitar), known for his virtuoso playing of jazz, string swing, and gypsy jazz.
He was initially active in the gypsy cultural center of Sinti, and was inspired by his relative Stochelo Rosenberg after his release of the album "Seresta" (Hot Club Records, 1989). Jimmy Rosenberg's international reputation started with the British Channel 4 show (Django's Legacy, 1990) with the trio "The Gypsy Kids", who constisted of Falko Reinhart and Sani van Mullum. In 1995 he was in the trio together with Johnny Rosenberg on guitar and Rinus Steinbach on bass.
With this group he toured in Oslo, New York and the Django festival in Paris until he pursued a solo career in 1997. Rosenberg has often taken part in the Norwegian Django Festival in Oslo, his first attendance having been made at only twelve years of age.
In 2000 he made his debut at Carnegie Hall, as part of the Django Reinhardt Festival at Birdland, New York, where he has been an annual guest ever since. He has released many records, and has worked together with Norwegians such as Hot Club de Norvège, Ola Kvernberg, and Stian Carstensen. Internationally, he has worked and released records with Romane, Andreas Öberg, Jon Larsen, Bireli Lagrene, Angelo Debarre and Frank Vignola. He has also played with Willie Nelson.
His life is ed in the Dutch film The Father, The Son, and the Talent (2007).The film is an account of Jimmys relationship with his father and his struggles with drugs, in addition to live performances. It s the high regard given Jimmy by artists such as James Brown, Stevie Wonder and Willie Nelson, including inviting him to play guitar with them. Jimmy says, about performing, "That feeling is beyond description. A lot of love goes into it. When I play at a concert after I've been very angry or very upset.. and I play it all out of my system, after the concert I feel as light as a feather. It was all gone and I felt happy and cheerful. And I would enjoy everything I did".
A Norwegian film Jon og Jimmy is forthcoming.