The Ameranouche trio features virtuoso guitarist Richard Sheppard, rhythm guitarist Ryan Flaherty, and upright bassist Xar Adelberg. The fast-fingered, U.S. based ensemble plays acoustic hot jazz and folk rock styles, both original compositions and unique arrangements by American and Gypsy songwriters.
Though thier music is not always easy to define, balancing between both World and Folk Rock, it is often reffered to as Gypsy Jazz, the explosive genre created by the great gypsy guitarist and composer Django Reinhardt. It is a melding of American jazz, Gypsy song formats, and a fire that comes from Rock, Alternative and Classical music. The music is universal and reaches diverse audiences worldwide. Ameranouche has featured songs in National Lampoons movie soundtrack Beach Party at the Threshold of Hell which was released in theaters nationwide on October th, . Kevin Wheatley, director and starring actor of the movie, refers to Ameranouche and the movie soundtrack as the “New sounds of America.”
Richard Sheppard plays lead guitar for Ameranouche: His fingers dart across the strings faster then hummingbirds wings -proclaims Jon Nolan of the Wire Seacoast Entertainment Magazine. Sheppard is an aggressor on the guitar, really taking it to its limits. Many of the tunes showcase his ability to make that guitar talk. He forcibly makes the strings resonate, and then he dances across the entirety of the fret board in order to get Ameranouche's gypsy jazz sound writes Christopher Hislop of the Portsmouth Herald.
Ryan Flaherty employs a tremendously fast and percussive rhythm style, raising comparisons to Sinti and Flamenco guitarist from Europe and South America. With his love of Bossa Nova and Samba, Ryan attributes much of his rhythmic approach to Latin music, but also acknowledges the Manouche gypsies as innovators of the swing “Pompe” style employed in much of his style. His life long passion for Rock, old time Blues and Folk music adds a fiery, unique spice to his playing and is easily recognizable.
Xar Adelberg completes the trio with her upright Bass. She astounds audiences everywhere. “ I have never seen a girl play upright bass with such velocity, charisma and style” proclaims a fan after watching Ameranouche live in concert. Humble she may be, but Xar really brings the roof
down with the bass.
Ameranouche performances are patterned with virtuosity, eclecticity and
inspiring energy. Audiences are taken aback by Sheppard's brilliant guitar work and the groups ceaseless musicianship. The trio’s repertoire flies beyond familiar Jazz styles because of the Gypsy and Folk Rock connection, and the fact they are playing on acoustic instruments. This gives the group limitless access to reworking out songs and original compositions. Aside from the original songs, Ameranouche has been known to work from a very diverse repertoire, anywhere from Stevie Wonders “Isn’t She Lovely” to Cole Porters “Lets Misbehave” to Black Sabbaths “War Pigs”... and reworking all these songs into their own beautiful, acoustic style. With the music worlds current outbreak of acoustic groups like Rodrigo Y Gabriella and Bela Fleck, it is no suprise Ameranouche is finding a welcoming territory on today’s new music map.
"Ameranouche blew the roof off of our barn with their Gypsy Jazz trio… high energy, amazing Manouche music."
- Dream Farm Creative Arts
"As musicians, they are truly top-shelf, but they're also some of the finest people that we've had the pleasure to be associated with at the MPCA"
- MPCA director Brett Hartenbach
"This is one of those bands that will just thrill and amaze any audience. They are truly incredible musicians. You can hear it in their recorded tracks, but to see them live is when the 'wow factor' really kicks in."
- Shawn Mercer, musician and concert promoter
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