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ELLSWORTH — It’s a gypsy jazz doubleheader at The Grand Auditorium on Thursday, June 19, beginning at 7:30 p.m. when The Robin Nolan Trio and Ameranouche take the stage. Tickets are $20.

The Robin Nolan Trio – headed by Robin Nolan who is joined by his brother Kevin Nolan on rhythm guitar and veteran musician Simon Planting on double bass – plays a mix of Django, Latin and swing classics, peppered with original compositions.

The group was formed in London during the summer of 1992 after an “inspirational weekend” at the annual Django Reinhardt Festival in Samois-Sur-Seine, France, where the legendary gypsy guitarist is buried. The group has played venues worldwide, including the Lincoln Center, the Montreal Jazz Festival, the Toronto Jazz Festival and the Django Reinhardt Festival, where the trio got standing ovations.

Ameranouche features guitarists Richard “Shep” Sheppard, Ryan Flaherty and bassist Xar Adelberg, a Maine native. The nationally acclaimed gypsy jazz ensemble plays acoustic hot jazz, both original compositions and unique arrangements by American and gypsy songwriters.

Ameranouche has been selected by New Hampshire Magazine as Best Jazz Group 2008.

Mr. Sheppard 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 at Bennington College and Pittsfield Community Music School; and has performed with artists including John Jorgenson, Ritary Ensemble, Rick Danko, Taj Mahal, Hot Tuna, and Vassar Clements.

Mr. Flaherty comes from northern Illinois. A seasoned performer, songwriter and vocalist, he plays rhythm for Ameranouche. He never went to school to learn music. Instead he learned from friends and isolated study, passionately practicing for years to grasp his technique and find his voice.

Ms. Adelberg joined Ameranouche in January of 2007. She has studied bass with Scott Lee and John Hebert and participated in master classes with teachers including Reid Anderson and Frank Carlberg.

She counts among her major influences John Hollenbeck, Mike Sarin, Tomasz Stanko, Brad Mehldau, Scott Lafaro, Tin Hat and Tom Waits. She has performed in the United States and Europe.

Originally published at: http://mdislander.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6172&Itemid=39