Ameranouche

             
The award winning Ameranouche trio features the melodic virtuosity of guitarist Richard Sheppard, the vehement rhythm chops of guitarist Ryan Flaherty and the dulcet low end of upright bassist Xar Adelberg. Together, this rip-roaring ensemble is a super force of hot acoustic jazz, sometimes referred to as hot swing or Gypsy jazz. The contrast of other influences like American Soul music, Flamenco and Bop are what give the fast fingered trio such a recognizable sound. All played on acoustic instruments, the music is rhythmic, vigorous and strangely elegant. It’s hard to believe only three people are creating such a big sound. 

Ameranouche formed in 2004 and has played venues from the prestigious JVC Newport Jazz Festival and Djangofest Northwest, to busking and club gigs throughout New England, the Mid Atlantic and the South, including tours through Midwest and Southern regions.

"The fire and sparks come from Richard Sheppard, whose fingers move with blinding speed across the fret board of his guitar, producing perfectly-pitched, rapid-fire licks and melodic runs up and down the neck" writes Bob Mckillop of Mainefolkmusic.com. "The riffs and melodies coming off Sheppard’s guitar entertained the ear, through their brightness and joy; but also, Sheppard’s hands entertain the eye and the mind. Watching him execute these notes on his instrument is truly a wonder to behold."

Ryan Flaherty is a great example of a rhythm guitarist" writes Mickillop. "Sheppard creates his amazing lead parts by riffing off the expertly maintained rhythms and changes in tempo that Flaherty lays down like a machine. But Flaherty is a machine with a soul that is filled with romance and high spirits. I watched his supple wrist drive his right hand into a blur, as he strummed the complex backing guitar part, playing it as easily as if he were merely breathing."

"Xar Adelberg is a young woman with a double bass who stands in the background between these two firebrand guitarists, out of the limelight. The primary role that the lead and rhythm guitar parts play in this music leads one to assume that a supporting instrumentalist such as a bassist would be merely trying to keep up. This is not the role that Xar has taken in this trio. "Her lyrical bass lines appear assertively in the mix, as they should, and stitch the lead and rhythm guitar parts together into the whole cloth. To watch her hands move expertly and nimbly across her instrument’s four large strings at such a rapid pace, is also to suspend belief in what a person can do with their body if they are driven to it by a passion for art."

Listen to Ameranouche now↓

 "These three astounding musicians are constantly watching each other as they play, but they do not focus on each other’s hands. Instead, they are constantly locking into each other’s eyes, for insight into plans for the next passage, the next riff. It’s like a high-stakes game of poker, and each player has a royal straight flush. They challenge each other and cajole each other, but ultimately, they support each other in creating amazing music" concludes Mickillop.

Ameranouche continues to follows the band's format and evolution from its gypsy jazz sound to the catchy, acoustic originals that grabbed the attention of movie producers, magazine editors and major festival circuits. Three original songs from the band's debut album "Homage A Manouche" are featured in National Lampoon’s feature film "Beach Party at the Threshold of Hell." The group was also awarded Best of New Hampshire 2008 by New Hampshire Magazine. A recent highlight for Ameranouche was opening for Herbie Hancock and Sonny Rollins at the 2008 JVC Newport Jazz Festival held last August. The trio received a standing ovation at Newport, one of the oldest jazz festivals in history.

To download the Ameranouche Bio, click here 

Shepp comes from southern New Jersey. He attended the Berklee School of Music, studied guitar and composition with Pat Martino in Philadelphia, studied composition and aesthetics with Dr. Frank Haas in Vineland, NJ 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 continues to invest his time in the evolution of Ameranouche. Shepp is an endorser of Dell Arte instruments and Wegen picks.
Shepp's myspace page: www.myspace.com/richardsheppardmusic