IF you thought the sight and sound of authentic Gypsy Jazz might involve a trip to a Parisian hot club or even the famous Samois-sur-Seinne festival – think again.

Taunton’s Creative Innovation Centre, CICCIC, played host to the magnificent Trio Manouche, a Somerset-based group of traditional hot-club jazz musicians. Dave Lunniss (rhythm guitar), Tony Bevir (double bass), and Toby Morgan (solo guitar) played three Gypsy Jazz sets to one of the most enthusiastic audiences seen at Taunton’s latest music and arts centre. The band’s repertoire included standards such as Minor Swing - a Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli classic, Joseph, Joseph - a lively minor-key swing, and a truly atmospheric version of Clair de Lune in which Toby Morgan’s masterful and poignant chromatic arpeggios kept the audience spellbound.

Special guest Charlie Hearnshaw (clarinet) joined the band in the final set and immediately set the tempo with another Reinhardt favourite, Nuage. He and Toby then shared the spotlight with alternating and seamless solos in numbers such as Lulu Swing, Night and Day, and Swing 42, culminating with Dark Eyes, to which the band received a standing ovation from the jam-packed audience.

All four have played together extensively, some for more than quarter of a century - and it shows – as they are consummate musicians. Dave Lunniss, the band’s leader, said he was “delighted and humbled” by the reception of the Taunton audience. The band looks likely to play at CICCIC later in the year and who could blame them after such a fantastic performance.

CICCIC's next music event, Acoustic Music Night, will take place on Saturday May 31 at 7pm.

By Matt Laight