ARTISTS
Richard Sheppard
Richard “Shepp” Sheppard, Guitar, comes from southern New Jersey. He attended the Berklee School of Music, studied guitar and composition with Pat Martino in Philadelphia, studied composition and aesthetics with Dr. Frank Haas in Vineland, NJ and studied guitar with Attilla Zoller in Southern Vermont.
He has taught guitar, composition, and music theory as a faculty member of Bennington College (Bennington, Vermont) and Pittsfield Community Music School (Pittsfield, Massachusetts).
He has performed and done shows with many different artists. Among these are , Wierd-Al Yankovic, Rick Danko, Hot Tuna, and Vassar Clements and Buddy Cage of the New Riders of the Purple Sage to name just a few as well as played and has been a featured performer at major festivals like the Newport Jazz Festival, The Cape May Jazz Festival and Muzicfest Bethlehem PA to name just a few,
His passion for Gypsy music and love for the guitar in general has lead him towards his own unique style of guitar playing he calls "World Improv Guitar".
Michael K. Harrist
Michael K. Harrist is a musician and educator based in Boston and NYC. Michael performs and works with artists in a wide array of world traditions including Turkish art music, Hindustani music, Jazz, Western art music and American roots music. He has performed throughout the Americas and Europe with various ensembles including Ameranouche, Cesni Trio, Ross Daly and Kelly Thoma, Orchestrotica, Sol & Kiel, Capillary Action and the Labyrinth Modal Music Orchestra. Michael teaches workshops and private lessons in western art music, Turkish makam, Jazz, Hindustani raga, monophonic and polyphonic composition and instrumental practice and performance. His workshops for children focus on pitch and rhythm acquisition through games and play. Michael studied double bass with James Macdonald at the Open Music Collective in Brattleboro, VT. He received his BA in music and religion from Marlboro College from composer Stan Charkey and religion scholar Amer Latif. Michael continues his studies with composer W. A. Mathieu, sarangi maestros Pandit Ramesh Mishra and Suhail Yusuf Khan, sarodiya George Ruckert, neyzen Fred Stubbs, and contemporary modal musicians Ross Daly, Evgenios Voulgaris and Kelly Thoma.
Ameranouche
The Beginning
Expanding Our Services
Expanding Our Services
The award winning Ameranouche (pronounced uh-Mare-uh-noosh) plays a passionate style of music they call “Gypsy Flamenco Swing.” They are veterans of the Newport Jazz Festival, Djangofest Northwest, Muzikfest Bethlehem, PA and the National Press Club. The name is derived from two words: American and Manouche, the gypsy tribe of guitaris
The award winning Ameranouche (pronounced uh-Mare-uh-noosh) plays a passionate style of music they call “Gypsy Flamenco Swing.” They are veterans of the Newport Jazz Festival, Djangofest Northwest, Muzikfest Bethlehem, PA and the National Press Club. The name is derived from two words: American and Manouche, the gypsy tribe of guitarist Django Reinhardt. The rip-roaring ensemble is a super force of hot acoustic Gypsy inspired music mixing Flamenco, Bebop and Jazz swing influences. Played on traditional French jazz guitars, the music is rhythmic, vigorous, and elegant. Whether they’re playing a musette waltz from 1930 or an Andalusian inspired original tune, Ameranouche’s Gypsy Flamenco Swing style is a fresh and highly enjoyable new sound for the 21st century.
Expanding Our Services
Expanding Our Services
Expanding Our Services
As of 2025, Ameranouche has performed at Jimmy's Jazz & Blues Club for a Brunch as well as Jimmy's Jazz Palor in Portsmouth, NH. Ameranouche has played at The Majestic Café in Conway, NH.
Our Philosophy
Expanding Our Services
Our Philosophy
At Budapest Heights Music, we believe that music has the power to bring people together and create meaningful experiences. We approach every event with this philosophy in mind, ensuring that every detail is perfect.