All about Jean "Matelot" Ferret

Swing Guitar Jean "Matelot" Ferret et son Sixtett
Andre "Sylvio" Siobud (cl); Camille Martens (vib); Jean "Matelot" Ferret (g solo); Rene Duchossoir (g);
Marcel Fabre (b); Saki "Jacky" Bambos (d)
Paris, December 15, 1943
La Vipere Du Trottoir Jean "Matelot" Ferret et son Sixtett
Paris, December 15, 1943
Le Rapide Jean "Matelot" Ferret et son Sixtett
Paris, December 15, 1943
Swing 42 Jean "Matelot" Ferret et son Sixtett
Paris, December 15, 1943
La Jolie Sardane Jean "Matelot" Ferret & son Ensemble Guitare-Boogie
Jean "Matelot" Ferret (g solo); Lucien Gallopain (g); bass&drums unknown
Paris, 1951 (Columbia DF 3444)
La Saint Bonheur Jean "Matelot" Ferret & son Ensemble Guitare-Boogie
Jean "Matelot" Ferret (g solo); Lucien Gallopain (g); bass&drums unknown
Paris, 1951 (Columbia DF 3444)
Guitare Boogie Jean "Matelot" Ferret Et Son Ensemble
Jean "Matelo" Ferret (g solo); Lucien Gallopain (g);Unknown (b); Unknown (d)
Paris, 6 Mai 1952
Roule Ta Bosse Jean "Matelot" Ferret Et Son Ensemble
Jean "Matelo" Ferret (g solo) Jean Bonal (g)
Paris, 23 January 1953
Dors, Dors, Dors Jean "Matelot" Ferret Et Son Ensemble
Jean "Matelo" Ferret (g solo) Jean Bonal (g)
Paris, 23 January 1953
I Surrender Dear Jean "Matelot" Ferret Et Son Ensemble
Pierre Michelot (b); Jean-Louis Viale (d); Jean "Matelo" Ferret (g); Jacky Cnudde (p)
Paris, 14 March 1955
Out Of Nowhere Jean "Matelot" Ferret Et Son Ensemble
Pierre Michelot (b); Jean-Louis Viale (d); Jean "Matelo" Ferret (g); Jacky Cnudde (p)
Paris, 14 March 1955
Djoungalo Jean "Matelot" Ferret Et Son Ensemble
Pierre Michelot (b); Jean-Louis Viale (d); Jean "Matelo" Ferret (g); Jacky Cnudde (p)
Paris, 14 March 1955
Pennies From Heaven Jean "Matelot" Ferret Et Son Ensemble
Pierre Michelot (b); Jean-Louis Viale (d); Jean "Matelo" Ferret (g); Jacky Cnudde (p)
Paris, 14 March 1955

Jean Matelot Ferret was born in 1918 in Rouen, France. The youngest of three brothers, he did not wait for adulthood to go to Paris, instead he ran away from home to follow his older brothers. He was at the time 13 years old and already skilled at the banjo and violin. The famed violinist Jean Guelesco – the Czar’s violinist – convinced him to give up the fiddle and take up the guitar. Soon he was playing every where in Paris, from the cabarets russes to the jazz clubs of Montparnasse – and of course the bals-musette. Matelot was a professional guitarist and was capable of playing in any environment. He is renowned today for his masterpiece double LP "Tziganskaia", and the recording he made with Jo Privat , "Manouche-Partie", but he made many other recordings in a busy career lasting over 50 years. This master guitarist knew virtually every style of music. Matelot is often called the master of the gypsy waltz – but slight evidence exists to document this fact. In fact his oeuvre is so wide-ranging that it is impossible to discuss it in this space. Matelot Ferret passed away in 1989. He was survived by his wife Jacqueline and three sons, Michel, Boulou, and Elios. Great guitarists in their own right, the latter two can be found playing in Paris and around the world.
Musetteguitars
painting by John Firesheets, collection: RSW

<- Back    Homepage