Sarane Ferret

Étienne “Sarane” Ferret (1912–1970) (surname also later spelled Ferré on occasion) was a French musette and gypsy jazz guitarist and composer, a contemporary and musical associate of Django Reinhardt, and the brother of noted Romani guitar players Baro and Matelo Ferret. He recorded with his own quintet in Paris in the 1940s and continued performing there, with occasional recording sessions, until his death in 1970. Biography Sarane Ferret was the middle-born 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. He was known by his Gypsy nickname “Sarane”. From 1931, the Ferret brothers Baro, Matelo and Sarane, and cousin René “Challain” Ferret, were favorite sidemen of Reinhardt. He initially made his name as a banjo player in Bals Musette, including with the Italian accordionist Vétese Guérino. He also accompanied Eastern European Gypsies in the Russian cabarets. He formed his own quintet in the 1940s, incorporating clarinets on occasion as well as the violin of Georges Effrosse into the “classic” gypsy jazz lineup (Effrosse’s tenure with the quintet was short-lived, however, dying i