The Ameranouche Trio features guitarists Richard Sheppard, Ryan Flaherty and bassist Xar Adelberg. The nationally acclaimed Gypsy Jazz ensemble plays acoustic hot jazz, both original compositions and unique arrangements by American and Gypsy songwriters. The music is universal and reaches diverse audiences worldwide.
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.
Ameranouche performances are patterned with virtuosity, eclecticity and inspiring energy. Audiences are taken aback by Sheppard’s brillant guitar work and the groups ceaseless musicianship.
The trio has performed at various festivals, venues, and radio stations including:
- The Vermont Arts Exchange Concert Series: VT
- Djangofest Northwest at WICA: Langley, WA
- New England Cultural Fest: MA
- The Dream Farm Concert Series: NH
- WICN: New England Jazz And Folk, Public Radio
- WDVX: Knoxville, TN Public Radio
- The Sun Music Hall: Floyd, VA
- Jazzd Tappas: Savannah, GA
- Middle Earth Music Hall: VT
- Titus Sparrow Park Concert Series: Boston, MA
- Paradise Lounge: Boston, MA
Ameranouche’s music has been regarded as reputable, genius, and able to generate extreme listening pleasure. The group is based in New England and tours regionally and nationally, from east to west, dazzling audiences everywhere.
Dell Arte Instruments
and Wegen Picks 
are proud sponsors of Ameranouche!!!. Shepp plays the 14 fret ‘Jimmy Rosenberg’ and “Homage” models, while Ryan plays the 12 fret ‘Sweet Chorus’ Model. Both Shepp and Ryan use Dell Arte strings and big tone pickups.
Shepp comes from southern New Jersey. He attended the Berklee School of Music, studied guitar and composition with Pat Martino in Philadelphia, and studied guitar with Attilla Zoller in Southern Vermont. He has taught guitar, composition, and music theory as a faculty member of Bennington College (Bennington, Vermont) and Pittsfield Community Music School (Pittsfield, Massachusetts).
He has performed and done shows with many different artists. Among these are John Jorgenson, Ritary Ensemble, Rick Danko, Taj Mahal, Hot Tuna, and Vassar Clements, to name just a few.
His passion for Gypsy music and love for the guitar in general are what drew him to form Ameranouche!!! He has written hundreds of compositions and is currently dedicating his compositional output to the gypsy jazz idiom.
Shepp is an endorser of Dell Arte instruments and Wegen picks.
Ryan comes from Northern Illinois. A seasoned performer, both songwriter and vocalist, he plays rock-steady, tasteful and hard-hitting rhythm for Ameranouche. Flaherty’s rhythmic technique on the guitar has been regarded by fans as "brilliant.” Like Shepp, Ryan plays a Dell Arte. His model is the Sweet Chorus, preferring the tonal contrast the 12-fret neck and d-hole provide to Shepp's Oval Hole. Ryan never went to school to learn music. Instead he learned from friends and isolated study, passionately practicing for years on end to grasp his technique and find his voice. Now playing with Ameranouche, Ryan is dedicated to bringing this music to the masses.
Hailing from Maine, Xar joined Ameranouche!!! in January of 2007. She has studied bass with Scott Lee and John Hebert and participated in masterclasses with the likes of Reid Anderson and Frank Carlberg.
She credits major influences with tremendous gratitude, including John Hollenbeck, Mike Sarin, Tomasz Stanko, Brad Mehldau, Scott Lafaro, Tin Hat, Tom Waits, all their respective groups, and most everything/everyone on labels like Fresh Sound and Tzadik.
Xar has performed in the US and Europe.