The Ameranouche!!! trio plays at The Buttonwood Tree Sept. 5. From left, Richard Sheppard on lead guitar and Ryan Flaherty on rhythm guitar, with Benjamin Wood on upright bass in the rear. Photo: Dortha Cool Willetts.
Gypsy Flamenco Swing Trio Thrills Buttonwood Audience
MIDDLETOWN - On Sept. 5, I and about 20 other people were mesmerized by the unbelieveably marvelous music played with brilliant skill and exquisite passion by the New Hampshire trio â€"Ameranouche!!!” (pronounced ‘uh-Mare-uh-noosh’).

       Playing in a style they call Gypsy Flamenco Swing, these talented musicians are Richard Sheppard (â€"Shepp”) on lead guitar, Benjamin Wood on upright bass and Ryan Flaherty on rhythm guitar.

       The trio features two European-designed-and -built acoustic jazz guitars. This gypsy jazz trio, veterans of the famed Newport Jazz Festival, won the â€"Best of New Hampshire Accoustic Act” award. Ameranouche!!! tours nationally, year-round, and has released five albums of largely original music. That night, Shepp told me all but three pieces they played were original compositions.

       â€"This rip-roaring ensemble is a super-force of hot acoustic Gypsy inspired music, mixing flamenco, bebop, Philly soul, traditional Turkish and jazz swing influences, producing music that is rhythmic, vigorous, passionate and elegant” (www.ameranouche.com ).

       Gypsy jazz (also known as gypsy swing or hot club jazz) is a style of jazz music often said to have been started by guitarist Jean â€"Django” Reinhardt in the 1930s. Because its origins are largely in France, it is often called by the French name, â€"jazz manouche”, or alternatively, â€"manouche jazz.” The term is now commonly used for this style of music.

       Django was foremost among a group of Romani guitarists working in and around Paris in the 1930s through the 1950s, a group which also included the brothers Baro, Sarane and Matelo Ferret and Reinhardt’s brother Joseph â€"Nin-Nin” Reinhardt.

       On the cover sheet of the album Homage a’ Manouche, Dan Kinter writes, â€"It’s rare to find a player who has a strong enough voice to grab this difficult (and often formulaic) style and create his own sound. Richard â€"Shepp” Sheppard is one such guitarist. Shepp has many years of experience with the guitar and possesses all the skills -- the strong right hand, the diverse musical background, and the willingness to take risks in his playing -- so necessary for the Gypsy jazz guitarist who wants to make his own way.”

       Shepp gave me this CD and I love playing it over and over; I especially like â€"L’ Ecureuil Rouge (m’a in les noix)”--orâ€"Red Squirrel”--which is about how New Hampshire red squirrels get into the house and tear things up.

       â€"Needless to say, getting them out of the house is seemingly a winter sport every year,” said Shepp.

       I also love the â€"unrestrained intensity,” Kiter attributes to the piece and find it terribly amusing--I can visualize the red squirrels being chased all over the house.

       I also love the lyrical piece â€"Maih Maull” (pronounced manuah maul) about a lighthouse in the Delaware Bay.

       â€"Its beauty and the song of its fog horn inspired this piece,” according to Shepp. â€"‘Maih Maull’ represents to me the mystery and history of ‘The Bay’ as they call it in South Jersey.”

       Shepp plays this with such quiet skill and it is simply beautiful and calming.

       Another of my favorites on this album is the powerfully expressive â€"Stockholm.”

       Shepp notes: â€"Written by the great master Django Reinhardt, I believe this piece to be one of those pieces of music that just defies description. It is, in my humble opinion, one of the most salient artistic expressions of the 20th century.”

       The newest album by Ameranouche!!! is Sun Shine Soul, which Shepp also gave to me.

       The album â€"enfolds the riches of flamenco, gypsy music, jazz and swing to create a fresh, sophisticated listen into a [contemporary-like] version of the swing band with some welcome surprises on tap for listeners,” according to World Music Center. â€"It takes musical flavors and traditions and propels them forward with utter and complete joy.”

       â€"Embracing celebration, hope and tributes to beloved fellow composers, Sun Shine Soul lives up to its title as an audio treasury of joy de vivre,” said Midwest Book Review. â€"Highly recommended, especially for international music album collections.”

       Shepp’s rapturous playing on â€"For My Old Home” on this new album is fabulous, but it is the mellow, sonorous sound of Benjamin Wood’s bass, that I love the most. The trio also presents a stunning, jazzy rendition of â€"Could It Be I’m Falling in Love” with one of them--probably Ryan singing the words--backed by Shepp and/or Benjamin.

       For me, the Celebrity Cafe review of Sun Shine Soul, â€"an infectious blend of fiery jazz, old world traditional music and soulful pulses…” rings true. I’m happy I took the time to see this group, and I will not miss another performance at The Buttonwood Tree if I can help it.
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