Paulus Schafer Trio

Paulus Schäfer (born 1978) is today one of the most talented Gypsy Jazz guitarists from The Netherlands. Born into a Dutch Sinti (Gypsy) community he learned to play the guitar at a very early age. Besides listening to fellow Sinti and records of his idol Django Reinhardt, it was Wasso Grünholz – a legend within the Sinti community – and his nephew Stochelo Rosenberg from whom he learned the most. After a short period of time, in which Paulus briefly took over the lead guitar of Jimmy Rosenberg in the Gipsy Kids, he formed the Paulus Schäfer Gipsy Band and recorded his debut album “Into the Light” in 2002, followed by many concerts and numerous – headlining – invitations to jazz festivals: Sziget Festival Budapest (H), Khamoro Prague (CZ), IGGF Gossington (UK), Django Reinhardt Festival Samois-sur-Seine (FR), Gipsy Festival Anger (FR), International Gipsyfestival (NL), Kaluga Festival (RU), Djangofollies (BE), Djangoliberchies (BE), Djangofest (USA), Transform – Trondheim (NO), Amersfoort Jazz (NL), Haarlem Jazz (NL) to name a few.??

Being a musician on high demand, Paulus is often to be found on stage with other musicians like The Rosenberg Trio, Biréli Lagrène, Stochelo Rosenberg, Fapy Lafertin, Jimmy Rosenberg, Tim Kliphuis, Feigeli Prisor, Andreas Öberg, Olli Soikkeli, Gonzalo Bergara, Jan Kuiper etc. and can be found on many albums. He also recorded two more albums with his own group in 2006, ‘Desert Fire’ and ‘Live at the NWE Vorst’ with the Paulus Schäfer Gipsy Band and The Tilburg Big Band. In March 2012 he released “Twelfth Year”, in which he guaranteed the assistance of Tim Kliphuis, Nous’che and Stochelo Rosenberg. A few month later “Rock Django” with the violin player Tim Kliphuis. The album “Kouvola Junction” has been published in Finland in the same year. The start of a successful partnership with Olli Soikkeli and Arnoud van den Berg in the band Hot Club d’Europe. And in November 2014 the release of CD album “Rocky” with the accordionist Dominique Paats. Paulus also participates in projects as “Five Great Guitars” and “Manouche Nouveau”. Paulus has a particular sound, easy recognized, and although all Paulus’ albums are true to a distinctive Gipsy Jazz/Swing sound; Paulus is always looking for a new modern sound. Not only to broaden his own horizons, but also for a more representative Gipsy Jazz sound for the 21st century.

Tonight, for one night only Paulus Schafer returns home to Le QuecumBar with his trio; Chris Quinn on rhythm guitar and Arnoud Vandenberg on double bass.