Pierre Ferret
Encyclopedia
Pierre Joseph Ferret was a Gypsy jazz guitarist and composer. He was known by his Gypsy nickname "Baro," which meant "Big One" or even "King" in Romany. Through his brother Jean "Matelo" Ferret, Baro met Jean "Django" Reinhardt
, and the two became both friends and notorious rivals. From 1931, the Ferret brothers, along with their third brother Etienne "Sarane" Ferret', and cousin René "Challain" Ferret, were favorite sidemen of Reinhardt. Baro recorded around 80 sides with the great guitarist.
Baro's immaculate guitar technique and improvisational style was at the same level as Reinhardt's, although he is said to have been frustrated at always being considered second-best. He retired as a full-time musician during World War II, and devoted himself to being a successful black-market business man during the German occupation of Paris.
As a composer, Baro's "valses bebop" were years ahead of the times. His works such as "Panique...!," "La Folle" ("The Madwoman"), "Swing Valse" (written with accordionist Gus Viseur), and "Le Depart de Zorro" were modernistic, surreal, and dark, part Musette
, part modern jazz.
Matelot Ferret's sons Boulou and Elios Ferré continue to perform gypsy jazz.
Django Reinhardt
Django Reinhardt was a pioneering virtuoso jazz guitarist and composer who invented an entirely new style of jazz guitar technique that has since become a living musical tradition within French gypsy culture...
, and the two became both friends and notorious rivals. From 1931, the Ferret brothers, along with their third brother Etienne "Sarane" Ferret', and cousin René "Challain" Ferret, were favorite sidemen of Reinhardt. Baro recorded around 80 sides with the great guitarist.
Baro's immaculate guitar technique and improvisational style was at the same level as Reinhardt's, although he is said to have been frustrated at always being considered second-best. He retired as a full-time musician during World War II, and devoted himself to being a successful black-market business man during the German occupation of Paris.
As a composer, Baro's "valses bebop" were years ahead of the times. His works such as "Panique...!," "La Folle" ("The Madwoman"), "Swing Valse" (written with accordionist Gus Viseur), and "Le Depart de Zorro" were modernistic, surreal, and dark, part Musette
Bal-musette
Bal-musette is a style of French music and dance that first became popular in Paris in the 1880s.Auvergnats settled in large numbers in the 5th, 11th, and 12th districts of Paris during the 19th century, opening cafés and bars where patrons danced the bourrée to the accompaniment of musette de...
, part modern jazz.
Matelot Ferret's sons Boulou and Elios Ferré continue to perform gypsy jazz.