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Gaucho, a gypsy jazz quartet, was formed in 2002. The lineup consists of Dave Ricketts & Michael Groh on guitars, Ari Munkres on standup bass & Rob Reich on accordion. A number of guest artists bring their own spice to the mix now and then. Starting with the sound of modern gypsy players like Biréli Lagrène, Stochelo Rosenberg, & Robin Nolan, Gaucho fuses together a diverse palette of styles. Though we trace our lineage to Django Reinhardt, Stephan Grapelli and "jazz manouche", Gaucho strives for a singular acoustic voice.
Michael Groh, Guitar
Stepping through rock, jazz, country and blues, Michael brings his perspective to the Gaucho mix with gratitude to be able to play the music with such fine practitioners. A Hot Club of San Francisco alumnus, his favorite colors are blue and green, & he likes to drink tea out of a glass.
Ari Munkres, Stand-up Bass
Ari Munkres, internationally acclaimed bassist, has been performing professionally for well over two decades. He has performed everything from classical to rock and has been excelling in the jazz world for the last ten years. One of the best gypsy jazz players in the country, he feels very fortunate to be playing with Gaucho, a group of musicians who share his abiding passion for the gypsy tradition.
Rob Reich, Accordion
Rob has played accordion and piano with numerous and varied groups throughout the Bay Area. Gigs have included bandleader for The Va Va Voom Room burlesque show and Rococo Risqué cabaret, klezmer with Kugelplex and with the Red Hot Chachkas, and 1960s soul organ with Lord Loves A Working Man. He is also an accomplished composer, with a degree from Oberlin Conservatory of Music. He loves gypsy jazz music for its craft, finesse, and swing. It is a joy to play with Gaucho.
Dave Ricketts, Guitar
A talented Gypsy Jazz guitarist as well as an accomplished classical player, Dave studied with William Feasley and holds a B.A. in Music from the U. of New Mexico. The CD "Django in Brussels" awoke in him a love for Gypsy Jazz, resulting in his playing for the Hot Club of San Francisco since 1999. He has performed with Kevin Nolan, Elizabeth Prior-Runnicles and Evan Price, and has toured to places as varied as Iceland, Amsterdam, Mexico and Samois-sur-Seine (Django's final home). These experiences combined with his classical background have enriched Dave's approach to Django's music.
Photo Credit: ©2005 Emily Becker
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