When the Times Argus ended 2010 by selecting the winners of the paper's annual awards for musical excellence by Vermont's popular and traditional musicians, (dubbed “The Tammies”) the Tammie for best instrumental album went to the father and son guitar duo of Greg and Aidan Ryan of Rochester for their Gypsy jazz album “They Might Be Gypsies.”

“This is not easy music to perform and the fact that Aidan was 14 at the time of the recording shows just how good this teenager is," said Times Argus Arts Correspondent Art Edelstein in his article announcing the awards. "This is intense, thoughtful, and spirited music played very well. This duo has a promising future and this first effort of theirs is top notch."

When it was released last year, the Ryan’s self-titled CD was also given a rave review by Seven Days’ Dan Bolles, who was not only impressed by the pair’s individual talent and expertise, but also "the dynamic interplay between the two musicians, who play a marvelous game of musical catch throughout the record."

The Ryans are currently playing at a number of venues around the state, and plan to tour out of state this summer. They recently attracted such an overflow crowd to s show in Ripton that people had to be turned away

"We also hope to get back in the studio later this winter to record a second CD," Greg said this week. "Our first one continues to sell well and we’ve been writing more original music, which will be on that new CD."

Now 15, Aidan has been playing the guitar since he was five and performing for audiences since he was six. Prior to the CD with his dad, he had already recorded two CDs of original music-one a solo album, the other with his friend Abe Doughty, as the duo "Gemini."

Greg, who recorded an album of folk tunes about 10 years ago, has played guitar since he was a child, but said he only discovered the gypsy jazz genre, which originated in the 1930s with legendary guitarist Django Rienhardt and his musical partner, violinist Stephane Grapelli, about two years ago.

Between them, Greg and Aidan have seven guitars, including a 1960 Levin classical guitar that Aidan received as a gift from his grandfather, who mailed him the best guitar in his collection with a note saying "I thought you could use this." Aidan can also play the piano. Their CD was recorded in seven days at Thunder Sky Studios in South Berwick, Maine.

Upcoming gigs include a gypsy jazz guitar workshop January 29 from 1-4 p.m. at the Art House in Middlebury and a February 12 show at the Bethel Town Hall.

For more information about "They Might Be Gypsies," go to their website at www.theymightbegypsies.com, where you can also find a schedule of their performance dates and purchase their CD.