The Music

Gypsy jazz can be traced back primarily to the musical practices of a group of very distinctive guiatarists who were active in Paris in the 1920s and 30s. Django Reinhardt was the key player in this scene, along with the Ferre brothers, and others, including many accordionists and violinists. One of their main sources of employment was playing in the Musette bands that were popular entertianment. Musette features the accordion as the main instrument, playing mostly very florid and beautiful waltzes. The Musette based waltz continues to be an important genre within Gypsy Jazz.

Gypsy Jazz evolved as successive generations of guitarists (and violinists) strove to express the intensity and robust beauty of Django's music, and to incorporate various traditional elements of  into jazz expression.
The musical performance standards within the Gypsy culture are extremely high. This phenomena can actually be traced back several centuries to Gypsy court musicians in Europe. The musicians who are part of  this lineage still represent the finest example of this, or any other music today.

Fortunately, Gypsy jazz also offers a broad and expressive pallette  to musicians with comparitively normal levels of ability. The Ross Bliss Trio is an example of some of these possibilities. If you are impressed with our music we are sincerely flattered, but please don't deny yourself the pleasure of seeking out the genuine article. The incredible technique and innate musicality of authentic Gypsy guitarists must be seen to be believed.

Some Samples of the Trio's music:

1) Billets Doux mp3
2) Soir De Dispute mp3
3) A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square mp3

(1) Billets Doux  wma
(2) Soir De Dispute  wma
(3) A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square  wma