Romane Manetti

Romane, although not of gypsy descent, was exposed to gypsy guitarists from a young age and drew inspiration from Django Reinhardt’s recordings, to whom he has remained loyal throughout his career. Nonetheless, he does not let his respect for Reinhardt restrict him from creating his own original pieces in the gypsy jazz genre.

In his discography, Romane demonstrates a desire to explore beyond the confines of the genre by experimenting with different musicians, accompanying instruments, and amplification of his guitar. He has performed in various settings, ranging from duos to sextets, with groups such as Django Vision and the Romane Acoustic Quartet. His collaborators on recordings include Florin Niculescu, Didier Lockwood, Tchavolo Schmitt, Angelo Debarre, and Stochelo Rosenberg.

In addition to his musical career, Romane is involved in education, having published several guitar methods, founded the Swing Romane Academy for gypsy swing music, launched a magazine called French Guitare, and served as the first director of the Village Musiques Actuelles ATLA founded by Noëlle Tatich in 1994.

Romane’s son, Richard Manetti, follows in his father’s footsteps as a jazz guitarist and gypsy swing performer, and the two often perform together on both national and international stages. His younger son, Pierre, is also a guitarist.

Romane received the following Awards and honors:

1997: Sidney Bechet Prize of the Academy of Jazz
2013: Grand Prix of the Jazz, Grand Prix Sacem

Discography

• Swing for Ninine (Kardium, 1992)
• Romane Quintet (JSL, 1994)
• Gypsy Swing Romance (Koka Media, 1996)
• Ombre (Imp, 1996)
• New Quintet du Hot Club de France (Arco Iris 1998)
• Samois-Sur-Seine (Arco Iris, 1998)
• Impair & Valse (Iris Music, 1999)
• Elegance with Stochelo Rosenberg (Iris Music, 2000)
• Romane and the Frederic Manoukian Orchestra (Iris Music, 2001)
• Romane Acoustic Quartet (Iris Music, 2002)
• Djangovision (Iris Music, 2003)
• Double Jeu with Stochelo Rosenberg (Iris Music, 2004)
• Acoustic Spirit (Iris Music, 2004)
• French Guitar (Iris Music, 2005)
• Gypsy Guitar Masters with Stochelo Rosenberg (Iris Music, 2006)
• Pere and Fils (Iris Music, 2007)
• Tribulations with Stochelo Rosenberg (Universal/EmArcy, 2010)
• Roots & Groove: Live at the Sunset (Fremeaux 2011)