Hans "Häns’che" Weiss (born 1951 in Berlin) is a distinguished german Sinto, Jazz-Guitarrist, composer and interpret of JazzManouche in the Tradition Django Reinhardt. Schnuckenack Reinhardt the great german Sinti-violinist recognized his talent very early, thus giving him a chance to join his Quintett as a Sologuitarrist in Dezember 1969 at the age of 18.
after three years of touring with the "Schnuckenack Reinhardt Quintette" , in September 1972, Häns’che co-founded the legendary „Häns'che-Weiss-Quintett“, beeing joined by musicians of the (old) „Schnuckenack Reinhardt-Quintett“. These were for example: Lulu Reinhardt (Git.). Titi Winterstein (Viol.), Holzmanno Winterstein (bis 1976), Ziroli Winterstein (1954–2007, Rhythmguitar) and Hojok Merstein (Doublebass).In 1978 the "Häns'che-Weiss-Quintett" received the "Deutsche Schallplattenpreis" (similar as the music Grammy in Germany) for their fourth album "5 Jahre Musik Deutscher Zigeuner" (5 years of music of german Sintis). Contained on this album is a tunes called "Lass Maro Tschatschepen" (Let´s ask for our rights), one of the first political motivated songs of a german
Sinti-Musician, sung in Romanes, the language of the Sintis.Häns'che Weiss disbanded his group in 1981 to be able to follow new musical paths and extending his repertoire to modern Jazz and Bossa Nova.
The place of Titi Winterstein on Violine in his new Quartett and Trio was taken by his nephew Martin Weiss from 1984 until 1994.
Since some years after that Häns’che Weiss was solely playing together with bassplayer Vali Mayer (image left), sometimes beeing extended to a trio by pianoplayer Micky Bamberger.
Häns'che Weiss was one of the greatest peronalities in german Sintijazz and as well of one of their greatest mentors.
Without him and his legendary records "Lass Maro Tschatschepen", "Ma premiere guitare", "Valse a Schwetzingen" and many more also together with jazz-greats like Oscar Klein on trumpet, the Gypsyjazz would have been vanished within the 1970ies in Germany.
Hänsche Weiss died † 2. Juni 2016 in Berlin after long heavy sickness. His death is great loss for the german Gpysyjazz-community and abroad.
