Jean Pierre "Matelo" Ferret (1918 – 24 January 1989) (also spelled Matelot, Matlo and Matlow, surname also later spelled Ferré on occasion) was a French musette and gypsy jazz guitarist and composer. He was an associate of Django Reinhardt and the youngest brother of guitarists Baro and Sarane Ferret. He recorded with his own sextet in Paris in the 1940s and continued performing there, with occasional recording sessions, until his death in 1989. He was noted for a musical style that incorporated Russian and Hungarian influences and lived long enough to see a resurgence of interest in gypsy jazz in which he was recognised as one of the great surviving players of the genre. Two of his sons, Boulou and Elios Ferré, continue to play a more modern and individualistic form of gypsy jazz-based guitar music in Paris.
Matelo Ferret was the youngest of the three Ferret brothers, Gitan gypsies from Rouen, France who made their way to Paris and there made the acquaintance of Django Reinhardt in 1931.[1][2] He was known by his French nickname "Matelo," which meant "sailor". He replaced guitarist Gusti Malha alongside accordionist Émile Vacher and later played with Guérino, another well known accordionist.[3]
From 1931, the Ferret brothers Matelo, Baro and Étienne "Sarane" Ferret, and cousin René "Challain" Ferret, were favorite sidemen of Reinhardt. At that time, Django and his companions frequently played at the Russian cabarets in Paris, notably the Casanova and the Shéhérazade and, while Django moved away into a more jazz direction for the major part of his career, Matelo spent much of his subsequent time in the Russian cabarets and developed a unique guitar style incorporating many Russian and Romanian gypsy (Tzigane) elements as well as musette-style waltzes and jazz.
After recording as a sideman on various sessions in the 1930s and early 40s, his first sessions under his own name were cut in 1944 (as "Jean Ferret et son Sixtette"); he recorded sporadically through the 1950s and 1960s (including notable guitar contributions to the famous "Manouche Partie" LP) and summed up his life's work with the 2-LP set Tziganskaïa recorded for Charles Delaunay in 1978 (re-released on CD along with 4 unrecorded waltzes by Django Reinhardt which Matelo recorded in 1960) on which he was accompanied by his son Boulou on rhythm guitar, along with cimbalom (a favourite instrument of the Tzigane gypsy style) and double bass.
Matelo died of cancer on 24 January 1989, aged 70, a contemporary of Django who survived long enough to see the revival of interest in gypsy jazz and related music and to leave several modern filmed performances. Two of his sons Boulou and Elios Ferré continue to perform. A third son, Michel "Sarane" Ferré (nickname after his uncle Sarane Ferret), has also performed and recorded with his father.
Partial discography
On 78 RPM discs:
1938 Gus Viseur's Music (with Gus Viseur, "Matlo", Baro & Challain Ferret and Maurice Speilleux, bass) - sessions rec. Paris, September 28 and October 20, 1938
1938 Albert Ferreri & Le Trio Ferret ("Matlo", Baro & Challain Ferret and Maurice Speilleux, bass) - session rec. Paris, October 20, 1938
1939 Le Trio Ferret (Baro, Matelo & Challain Ferret and Maurice Speilleux, bass) - session rec. Paris, March 2, 1939
1940 Gus Viseur et son Orchestre (with Gus Viseur, Matelo, Sarane & Challain Ferret and Maurice Speilleux, bass) - session rec. Paris, August 9, 1940
1941 Sarane Ferret et le Swing Quintette de Paris (with Baro & Matelo Ferret + others) - sessions rec. Paris, May and June, 1941
1942 Sarane Ferret et le Swing Quintette de Paris with Georges Effrosse (with Baro & Matelo Ferret + others) - sessions rec. Paris, ?? and October, 1942
1942 André Ekyan et son Orchestre (with Matelo Ferret + others) - session rec. Paris, July 22, 1942
1943 Matelo Ferret: Jean Ferret et son Sixtette - session rec. Paris, December 15, 1943
On EP & LP (plus CD reissues):
1951 Jean "Matelot" Ferret: Diner en Musique (EP) [?="Votre Dîner en Musique" (Columbia 33 FSX 105), below]
1954 as "Pierre-Jean Ferret et son Orchestre" on Various Artists: "Votre Dîner en Musique" Columbia 33 FSX 105 (4 tracks only) album details album cover
195x as "Pierre Ferret et son Orchestre" on Various Artists: "Super Festival Dancing No. 14" Columbia 33 FSX 108 (2 tracks only) ?= "Surprise-Partie No. 14" FLD 121 album details
195x as "Pierre Ferret et son Orchestre" on Various Artists: "Votre Thé en Musique" Columbia 33 FSX 108 (3 tracks only) album details album cover
1955 Matelo Ferret et son Quartette: Musique Pour Deux no. 14 (EP) album cover
1955 on Robert Ripa et sa Guitare: Chansons Grises, Chansons Roses (EP) Disques Vogue EPL 7136 album details
1956 on Robert Ripa: Robert Ripa chante "Le Bidon" du Film "Il Bidone" et "le petit bistrot de papa" (EP) Disques Vogue EPL 7252 album details
1960 (?1959, ?1961) Matelo Ferret: Jean "Matelot" Ferret et sa Guitare Joue les Inédits de Django Reinhardt (EP) Vogue (F) EPL 7740 with Jacques Montagne and Sarane Ferret, guitars album details
1961 Matelo Ferret: Jean "Matelot" Ferret et sa Guitare Joue les Inédits de Django Reinhardt [same title, different album] (EP) Vogue (F) EPL 7829 album cover
1961 on Marfisa: Chants de Corse [feat. Matelot Ferré, Jean-Marie Pallen] (EP) BIEM 424.253 album details
1962 on Robert Ripa: Fanny [feat. Matelot Ferré, Jean-Marie Pallen] (EP) Ricordi 45 S 235 album details
1962 on Jean Ferrat: Les Nomades [with Boulou Ferré, Matelo Ferret] (EP) Decca 451.160 album details
1965 Matelo Ferret (as Matelo Ferré): Marta (EP) with Michel Terrioux, vibraphone; Laro Sollero, guitar; Michel Gaudry, double bass; Andy Arpino, drums album details
1965 on Pierre "Baro" Ferret: Swing Valses d'Hier et d'Aujourd'hui - Pierre "Baro" Ferret, guitar with Jacques Montagne and Matelo Ferret, guitars + others album details
1967 on Various artists: Manouche Partie (with Jo Privat and others) - rec. 1960 and 1966 album details
1967 on Antoine Ciosi: Le Prisonnier [etc.] (EP) Consul C.M 2081 album details
19?? on Jo Privat with Matelot Ferret & Sarane Ferré Jr: Dansez sur les Plus Belles Chansons du Monde (2xLP) Discodis AZ FL 85.016/017 album details
19?? on Various Artists: Super Festival Dancing No. 14 Columbia 33 FSX 108 (2 tracks only)
1970 on Various artists: La Nuit des Gitans à l'Olympia de Paris - 1970
1971 on Gus Viseur: Swing Accordéon (LP) Vogue SMDINT 9928 album details
1979 Matelo Ferret (as Pierre "Matlow" Ferret): Tziganskaïa (2xLP) album cover
1988 Matelo Ferret: Tziganskaïa and Other Rare Recordings (re-released 2006 as Tziganskaïa - The Django Reinhardt Waltzes) Hot Club Records HCRCD 46 album details
1989 Sarane & Matelo Ferret: Tribute to Django INA FC 124 (live recordings, 1967 in Paris and 1973 at Samois) album details
2002 on Various Artists: Gipsy Jazz School - Django's Legacy (2xCD, compilation, 2 tracks only) Iris Music 3001 845 album details
20?? on Various Artists: Jazz Archives No. 144: Jazz Gitan 1939/1943 (compilation, includes 1930s and 1940s recordings as above) EPM Musique 159472 album details
2007 on Various Artists: Gypsy Jazz (4xCD) Properbox 128 (compilation, includes 1930s and 1940s recordings as above) album details
2009 Les Frères Ferret (Baro, Sarane, Matelo): Les Gitans De Paris 1938-1956 (3xCD, compilation) Frémeaux & Associés FA 5247 album details
2011 on Various Artists: Le Coffret Jazz Manouche (5xCD, compilation, 1 track only) Wagram 3243392 album details
2014 as Matelo Ferré: Rare Recordings (compilation) Hot Club Records HCR 352 album details
Film appearances
1959 Hommage a Django Reinhardt (with Maurice "Gros Chien" Ferret), dir. Jean-Christophe Averty
References
^Dregni, Michael (2004). Django: The Life and Music of a Gypsy Legend. Oxford University Press. pp. 61–62. ISBN0-19-516752-X.
^Dregni, Michael (2008). Gypsy Jazz: In Search of Django Reinhardt and the Soul of Gypsy Swing. Oxford University Press. pp. 146–161. ISBN978-0-19-531192-1.
^Antonietto, Alain (1999). "Matelo Ferret 1918 - 1989". In Charle, François (ed.). The Story of Selmer Maccaferri Guitars (English Edition). Published: François Charle. pp. 182–185. ISBN2-9513516-1-5.
External links
Matelo Ferret entry on djangostation.com
Jean "Matelot" Ferret entry on papabecker.com
Comments, liner notes from Rare Recordings (2014 release) on http://www.djangobooks.com/
May 05, 2023
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Matelo Ferret news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message Jean Pierre Matelo Ferret 1918 24 January 1989 also spelled Matelot Matlo and Matlow surname also later spelled Ferre on occasion was a French musette and gypsy jazz guitarist and composer He was an associate of Django Reinhardt and the youngest brother of guitarists Baro and Sarane Ferret He recorded with his own sextet in Paris in the 1940s and continued performing there with occasional recording sessions until his death in 1989 He was noted for a musical style that incorporated Russian and Hungarian influences and lived long enough to see a resurgence of interest in gypsy jazz in which he was recognised as one of the great surviving players of the genre Two of his sons Boulou and Elios Ferre continue to play a more modern and individualistic form of gypsy jazz based guitar music in Paris Matelo FerretBackground informationBirth nameJean Pierre FerretBorn1918Died24 January 1989 1989 01 24 aged 70 71 GenresRomani music musette gypsy jazzOccupation s Musician composerYears active1930s 1980s Contents 1 Biography 2 Partial discography 3 Film appearances 4 References 5 External linksBiography EditMatelo Ferret was the youngest of the three Ferret brothers Gitan gypsies from Rouen France who made their way to Paris and there made the acquaintance of Django Reinhardt in 1931 1 2 He was known by his French nickname Matelo which meant sailor He replaced guitarist Gusti Malha alongside accordionist Emile Vacher and later played with Guerino another well known accordionist 3 From 1931 the Ferret brothers Matelo Baro and Etienne Sarane Ferret and cousin Rene Challain Ferret were favorite sidemen of Reinhardt At that time Django and his companions frequently played at the Russian cabarets in Paris notably the Casanova and the Sheherazade and while Django moved away into a more jazz direction for the major part of his career Matelo spent much of his subsequent time in the Russian cabarets and developed a unique guitar style incorporating many Russian and Romanian gypsy Tzigane elements as well as musette style waltzes and jazz After recording as a sideman on various sessions in the 1930s and early 40s his first sessions under his own name were cut in 1944 as Jean Ferret et son Sixtette he recorded sporadically through the 1950s and 1960s including notable guitar contributions to the famous Manouche Partie LP and summed up his life s work with the 2 LP set Tziganskaia recorded for Charles Delaunay in 1978 re released on CD along with 4 unrecorded waltzes by Django Reinhardt which Matelo recorded in 1960 on which he was accompanied by his son Boulou on rhythm guitar along with cimbalom a favourite instrument of the Tzigane gypsy style and double bass Matelo died of cancer on 24 January 1989 aged 70 a contemporary of Django who survived long enough to see the revival of interest in gypsy jazz and related music and to leave several modern filmed performances Two of his sons Boulou and Elios Ferre continue to perform A third son Michel Sarane Ferre nickname after his uncle Sarane Ferret has also performed and recorded with his father Partial discography EditOn 78 RPM discs 1938 Gus Viseur s Music with Gus Viseur Matlo Baro amp Challain Ferret and Maurice Speilleux bass sessions rec Paris September 28 and October 20 1938 1938 Albert Ferreri amp Le Trio Ferret Matlo Baro amp Challain Ferret and Maurice Speilleux bass session rec Paris October 20 1938 1939 Le Trio Ferret Baro Matelo amp Challain Ferret and Maurice Speilleux bass session rec Paris March 2 1939 1940 Gus Viseur et son Orchestre with Gus Viseur Matelo Sarane amp Challain Ferret and Maurice Speilleux bass session rec Paris August 9 1940 1941 Sarane Ferret et le Swing Quintette de Paris with Baro amp Matelo Ferret others sessions rec Paris May and June 1941 1942 Sarane Ferret et le Swing Quintette de Paris with Georges Effrosse with Baro amp Matelo Ferret others sessions rec Paris and October 1942 1942 Andre Ekyan et son Orchestre with Matelo Ferret others session rec Paris July 22 1942 1943 Matelo Ferret Jean Ferret et son Sixtette session rec Paris December 15 1943On EP amp LP plus CD reissues 1951 Jean Matelot Ferret Diner en Musique EP Votre Diner en Musique Columbia 33 FSX 105 below 1954 as Pierre Jean Ferret et son Orchestre on Various Artists Votre Diner en Musique Columbia 33 FSX 105 4 tracks only album details album cover 195x as Pierre Ferret et son Orchestre on Various Artists Super Festival Dancing No 14 Columbia 33 FSX 108 2 tracks only Surprise Partie No 14 FLD 121 album details 195x as Pierre Ferret et son Orchestre on Various Artists Votre The en Musique Columbia 33 FSX 108 3 tracks only album details album cover 1955 Matelo Ferret et son Quartette Musique Pour Deux no 14 EP album cover 1955 on Robert Ripa et sa Guitare Chansons Grises Chansons Roses EP Disques Vogue EPL 7136 album details 1956 on Robert Ripa Robert Ripa chante Le Bidon du Film Il Bidone et le petit bistrot de papa EP Disques Vogue EPL 7252 album details 1960 1959 1961 Matelo Ferret Jean Matelot Ferret et sa Guitare Joue les Inedits de Django Reinhardt EP Vogue F EPL 7740 with Jacques Montagne and Sarane Ferret guitars album details 1961 Matelo Ferret Jean Matelot Ferret et sa Guitare Joue les Inedits de Django Reinhardt same title different album EP Vogue F EPL 7829 album cover 1961 on Marfisa Chants de Corse feat Matelot Ferre Jean Marie Pallen EP BIEM 424 253 album details 1962 on Robert Ripa Fanny feat Matelot Ferre Jean Marie Pallen EP Ricordi 45 S 235 album details 1962 on Jean Ferrat Les Nomades with Boulou Ferre Matelo Ferret EP Decca 451 160 album details 1965 Matelo Ferret as Matelo Ferre Marta EP with Michel Terrioux vibraphone Laro Sollero guitar Michel Gaudry double bass Andy Arpino drums album details 1965 on Pierre Baro Ferret Swing Valses d Hier et d Aujourd hui Pierre Baro Ferret guitar with Jacques Montagne and Matelo Ferret guitars others album details 1967 on Various artists Manouche Partie with Jo Privat and others rec 1960 and 1966 album details 1967 on Antoine Ciosi Le Prisonnier etc EP Consul C M 2081 album details 19 on Jo Privat with Matelot Ferret amp Sarane Ferre Jr Dansez sur les Plus Belles Chansons du Monde 2xLP Discodis AZ FL 85 016 017 album details 19 on Various Artists Super Festival Dancing No 14 Columbia 33 FSX 108 2 tracks only 1970 on Various artists La Nuit des Gitans a l Olympia de Paris 1970 1971 on Gus Viseur Swing Accordeon LP Vogue SMDINT 9928 album details 1979 Matelo Ferret as Pierre Matlow Ferret Tziganskaia 2xLP album cover 1988 Matelo Ferret Tziganskaia and Other Rare Recordings re released 2006 as Tziganskaia The Django Reinhardt Waltzes Hot Club Records HCRCD 46 album details 1989 Sarane amp Matelo Ferret Tribute to Django INA FC 124 live recordings 1967 in Paris and 1973 at Samois album details 2002 on Various Artists Gipsy Jazz School Django s Legacy 2xCD compilation 2 tracks only Iris Music 3001 845 album details 20 on Various Artists Jazz Archives No 144 Jazz Gitan 1939 1943 compilation includes 1930s and 1940s recordings as above EPM Musique 159472 album details 2007 on Various Artists Gypsy Jazz 4xCD Properbox 128 compilation includes 1930s and 1940s recordings as above album details 2009 Les Freres Ferret Baro Sarane Matelo Les Gitans De Paris 1938 1956 3xCD compilation Fremeaux amp Associes FA 5247 album details 2011 on Various Artists Le Coffret Jazz Manouche 5xCD compilation 1 track only Wagram 3243392 album details 2014 as Matelo Ferre Rare Recordings compilation Hot Club Records HCR 352 album detailsFilm appearances Edit1959 Hommage a Django Reinhardt with Maurice Gros Chien Ferret dir Jean Christophe AvertyReferences Edit Dregni Michael 2004 Django The Life and Music of a Gypsy Legend Oxford University Press pp 61 62 ISBN 0 19 516752 X Dregni Michael 2008 Gypsy Jazz In Search of Django Reinhardt and the Soul of Gypsy Swing Oxford University Press pp 146 161 ISBN 978 0 19 531192 1 Antonietto Alain 1999 Matelo Ferret 1918 1989 In Charle Francois ed The Story of Selmer Maccaferri Guitars English Edition Published Francois Charle pp 182 185 ISBN 2 9513516 1 5 External links EditMatelo Ferret entry on djangostation com Jean Matelot Ferret entry on papabecker com Comments liner notes from Rare Recordings 2014 release on http www djangobooks com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Matelo Ferret amp oldid 1130317420, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
