Biography
by Matt Collar
An
adept French guitarist, Biréli Lagrène has drawn praise for his fertile
blend of swinging continental jazz, post-bop, and fusion. Emerging with
Routes to Django: Live in 1980, the then 13-year-old guitarist was
quickly praised as an heir to the legendary Django Reinhardt. Over time,
however, he broadened his approach, exploring artists like Wes
Montgomery, Larry Coryell, and Jimi Hendrix, influences he displayed on
1988's Inferno and 2008's Electric Side. Nonetheless, as evidenced by
1992's Standards, 2005's Move, and 2018's Storyteller, Lagrène remains a
leading proponent of both the straight-ahead and gypsy jazz traditions.
Lagrène
was born into a Romani family on September 4, 1966, in Saverne, Alsace,
France. Both his father and grandfather had been prominent guitarists,
and Lagrène was first introduced to the instrument around age four.
Under his father's influence, Lagrène was soon absorbing the music of
guitarist Django Reinhardt, as well as recordings by violinist Stéphane
Grappelli and the Hot Club of France. By age seven, he was already a
gifted performer and garnered increasing attention throughout the 1970s,
especially after he won a prize at a festival in Strasbourg in 1978 and
performed on television as part of an appearance at a Gypsy festival
broadcast. In 1981, he made his solo debut with Routes to Django: Live.
The studio-album Fifteen followed a year later, featuring more Reinhardt
songs and jazz standards.
During his late teens, Lagrène's
musical taste began to evolve as he started playing electric guitar and
absorbing players like Wes Montgomery, John McLaughlin, Larry Coryell,
and Jimi Hendrix. In 1984, he appeared at the Django Reinhardt Tribute
at Fat Tuesdays in New York, where he showcased his stylistically
expansive sound. He signed to Blue Note and issued a handful of
genre-crossing albums: 1988's Inferno, 1989's Foreign Affairs, and
1990's Acoustic Moments. All of these albums found the guitarist
exploring a mix of post-bop, fusion, and Reinhardt-style pieces. The
straight-ahead Standards, with bassist Niels Pedersen and drummer Andre
Ceccarelli, arrived in 1992.
With 1995's My Favorite Django,
Lagrène returned to his love of traditional gypsy swing. Over the next
decade, he made occassional forays into fusion, while continuing to
balance his love of Django Reinhardt, straight-ahead jazz and bop
influences. He also kept a steady live schedule, appearing live at
Marciac in 1994 and at New York's Blue Note in 1997 with Larry Coryell
and Billy Cobham. In 1998, he issued the Frank Sinatra tribute Old Blues
Eyes, with pianist Maurice Vander, bassist Chris Minh Doky, and drummer
Ceccarelli. In 2002, he issued Gypsy Project, yet another album that
found him returning to Reinhardt and the classic jazz songbook. Similar
albums followed, including 2005's Move, 2006's Djangology, and 2007's
Just the Way You Are. A year later, he issued the fusion-influenced
Electric Side.
He then paired with guitarist Hono Winterstein and
bassist Diego Imbert for 2009's Gipsi Trio. That same year, he also
released his own Summertime. In 2012, he recorded a straight-ahead jazz
set for Universal entitled Mouvements with saxophonist Franck Wolf,
drummer Jean-Marc Robin, and Hammond organist Jean-Yves Jung. Also in
2012, Lagrène was asked to participate in the 50th career anniversary
celebration for violinist Jean-Luc Ponty, during which he appeared in a
trio with Ponty and bassist Stanley Clarke. Inspired by their chemistry
on stage that night, the trio stayed in touch, and in 2015 paired again
for the studio album D-Stringz on Impulse! In 2018, the guitarist issued
Storyteller, featuring bassist Larry Grenadier and percussionist Mino
Cinélu.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bir%C3%A9li-lagr%C3%A8ne-mn0000082316/biography
///////
Biography
by Matt Collar
An
adept French guitarist, Biréli Lagrène has drawn praise for his fertile
blend of swinging continental jazz, post-bop, and fusion. Emerging with
Routes to Django: Live in 1980, the then 13-year-old guitarist was
quickly praised as an heir to the legendary Django Reinhardt. Over time,
however, he broadened his approach, exploring artists like Wes
Montgomery, Larry Coryell, and Jimi Hendrix, influences he displayed on
1988's Inferno and 2008's Electric Side. Nonetheless, as evidenced by
1992's Standards, 2005's Move, and 2018's Storyteller, Lagrène remains a
leading proponent of both the straight-ahead and gypsy jazz traditions.
Lagrène
was born into a Romani family on September 4, 1966, in Saverne, Alsace,
France. Both his father and grandfather had been prominent guitarists,
and Lagrène was first introduced to the instrument around age four.
Under his father's influence, Lagrène was soon absorbing the music of
guitarist Django Reinhardt, as well as recordings by violinist Stéphane
Grappelli and the Hot Club of France. By age seven, he was already a
gifted performer and garnered increasing attention throughout the 1970s,
especially after he won a prize at a festival in Strasbourg in 1978 and
performed on television as part of an appearance at a Gypsy festival
broadcast. In 1981, he made his solo debut with Routes to Django: Live.
The studio-album Fifteen followed a year later, featuring more Reinhardt
songs and jazz standards.
During his late teens, Lagrène's
musical taste began to evolve as he started playing electric guitar and
absorbing players like Wes Montgomery, John McLaughlin, Larry Coryell,
and Jimi Hendrix. In 1984, he appeared at the Django Reinhardt Tribute
at Fat Tuesdays in New York, where he showcased his stylistically
expansive sound. He signed to Blue Note and issued a handful of
genre-crossing albums: 1988's Inferno, 1989's Foreign Affairs, and
1990's Acoustic Moments. All of these albums found the guitarist
exploring a mix of post-bop, fusion, and Reinhardt-style pieces. The
straight-ahead Standards, with bassist Niels Pedersen and drummer Andre
Ceccarelli, arrived in 1992.
With 1995's My Favorite Django,
Lagrène returned to his love of traditional gypsy swing. Over the next
decade, he made occassional forays into fusion, while continuing to
balance his love of Django Reinhardt, straight-ahead jazz and bop
influences. He also kept a steady live schedule, appearing live at
Marciac in 1994 and at New York's Blue Note in 1997 with Larry Coryell
and Billy Cobham. In 1998, he issued the Frank Sinatra tribute Old Blues
Eyes, with pianist Maurice Vander, bassist Chris Minh Doky, and drummer
Ceccarelli. In 2002, he issued Gypsy Project, yet another album that
found him returning to Reinhardt and the classic jazz songbook. Similar
albums followed, including 2005's Move, 2006's Djangology, and 2007's
Just the Way You Are. A year later, he issued the fusion-influenced
Electric Side.
He then paired with guitarist Hono Winterstein and
bassist Diego Imbert for 2009's Gipsi Trio. That same year, he also
released his own Summertime. In 2012, he recorded a straight-ahead jazz
set for Universal entitled Mouvements with saxophonist Franck Wolf,
drummer Jean-Marc Robin, and Hammond organist Jean-Yves Jung. Also in
2012, Lagrène was asked to participate in the 50th career anniversary
celebration for violinist Jean-Luc Ponty, during which he appeared in a
trio with Ponty and bassist Stanley Clarke. Inspired by their chemistry
on stage that night, the trio stayed in touch, and in 2015 paired again
for the studio album D-Stringz on Impulse! In 2018, the guitarist issued
Storyteller, featuring bassist Larry Grenadier and percussionist Mino
Cinélu.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bir%C3%A9li-lagr%C3%A8ne-mn0000082316/biography
Biography
by Matt Collar
An adept French guitarist, Biréli Lagrène has drawn praise for his fertile blend of swinging continental jazz, post-bop, and fusion. Emerging with Routes to Django: Live in 1980, the then 13-year-old guitarist was quickly praised as an heir to the legendary Django Reinhardt. Over time, however, he broadened his approach, exploring artists like Wes Montgomery, Larry Coryell, and Jimi Hendrix, influences he displayed on 1988's Inferno and 2008's Electric Side. Nonetheless, as evidenced by 1992's Standards, 2005's Move, and 2018's Storyteller, Lagrène remains a leading proponent of both the straight-ahead and gypsy jazz traditions.
Lagrène was born into a Romani family on September 4, 1966, in Saverne, Alsace, France. Both his father and grandfather had been prominent guitarists, and Lagrène was first introduced to the instrument around age four. Under his father's influence, Lagrène was soon absorbing the music of guitarist Django Reinhardt, as well as recordings by violinist Stéphane Grappelli and the Hot Club of France. By age seven, he was already a gifted performer and garnered increasing attention throughout the 1970s, especially after he won a prize at a festival in Strasbourg in 1978 and performed on television as part of an appearance at a Gypsy festival broadcast. In 1981, he made his solo debut with Routes to Django: Live. The studio-album Fifteen followed a year later, featuring more Reinhardt songs and jazz standards.
During his late teens, Lagrène's musical taste began to evolve as he started playing electric guitar and absorbing players like Wes Montgomery, John McLaughlin, Larry Coryell, and Jimi Hendrix. In 1984, he appeared at the Django Reinhardt Tribute at Fat Tuesdays in New York, where he showcased his stylistically expansive sound. He signed to Blue Note and issued a handful of genre-crossing albums: 1988's Inferno, 1989's Foreign Affairs, and 1990's Acoustic Moments. All of these albums found the guitarist exploring a mix of post-bop, fusion, and Reinhardt-style pieces. The straight-ahead Standards, with bassist Niels Pedersen and drummer Andre Ceccarelli, arrived in 1992.
With 1995's My Favorite Django, Lagrène returned to his love of traditional gypsy swing. Over the next decade, he made occassional forays into fusion, while continuing to balance his love of Django Reinhardt, straight-ahead jazz and bop influences. He also kept a steady live schedule, appearing live at Marciac in 1994 and at New York's Blue Note in 1997 with Larry Coryell and Billy Cobham. In 1998, he issued the Frank Sinatra tribute Old Blues Eyes, with pianist Maurice Vander, bassist Chris Minh Doky, and drummer Ceccarelli. In 2002, he issued Gypsy Project, yet another album that found him returning to Reinhardt and the classic jazz songbook. Similar albums followed, including 2005's Move, 2006's Djangology, and 2007's Just the Way You Are. A year later, he issued the fusion-influenced Electric Side.
He then paired with guitarist Hono Winterstein and bassist Diego Imbert for 2009's Gipsi Trio. That same year, he also released his own Summertime. In 2012, he recorded a straight-ahead jazz set for Universal entitled Mouvements with saxophonist Franck Wolf, drummer Jean-Marc Robin, and Hammond organist Jean-Yves Jung. Also in 2012, Lagrène was asked to participate in the 50th career anniversary celebration for violinist Jean-Luc Ponty, during which he appeared in a trio with Ponty and bassist Stanley Clarke. Inspired by their chemistry on stage that night, the trio stayed in touch, and in 2015 paired again for the studio album D-Stringz on Impulse! In 2018, the guitarist issued Storyteller, featuring bassist Larry Grenadier and percussionist Mino Cinélu.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bir%C3%A9li-lagr%C3%A8ne-mn0000082316/biography
///////
Biography
by Matt Collar
An adept French guitarist, Biréli Lagrène has drawn praise for his fertile blend of swinging continental jazz, post-bop, and fusion. Emerging with Routes to Django: Live in 1980, the then 13-year-old guitarist was quickly praised as an heir to the legendary Django Reinhardt. Over time, however, he broadened his approach, exploring artists like Wes Montgomery, Larry Coryell, and Jimi Hendrix, influences he displayed on 1988's Inferno and 2008's Electric Side. Nonetheless, as evidenced by 1992's Standards, 2005's Move, and 2018's Storyteller, Lagrène remains a leading proponent of both the straight-ahead and gypsy jazz traditions.
Lagrène was born into a Romani family on September 4, 1966, in Saverne, Alsace, France. Both his father and grandfather had been prominent guitarists, and Lagrène was first introduced to the instrument around age four. Under his father's influence, Lagrène was soon absorbing the music of guitarist Django Reinhardt, as well as recordings by violinist Stéphane Grappelli and the Hot Club of France. By age seven, he was already a gifted performer and garnered increasing attention throughout the 1970s, especially after he won a prize at a festival in Strasbourg in 1978 and performed on television as part of an appearance at a Gypsy festival broadcast. In 1981, he made his solo debut with Routes to Django: Live. The studio-album Fifteen followed a year later, featuring more Reinhardt songs and jazz standards.
During his late teens, Lagrène's musical taste began to evolve as he started playing electric guitar and absorbing players like Wes Montgomery, John McLaughlin, Larry Coryell, and Jimi Hendrix. In 1984, he appeared at the Django Reinhardt Tribute at Fat Tuesdays in New York, where he showcased his stylistically expansive sound. He signed to Blue Note and issued a handful of genre-crossing albums: 1988's Inferno, 1989's Foreign Affairs, and 1990's Acoustic Moments. All of these albums found the guitarist exploring a mix of post-bop, fusion, and Reinhardt-style pieces. The straight-ahead Standards, with bassist Niels Pedersen and drummer Andre Ceccarelli, arrived in 1992.
With 1995's My Favorite Django, Lagrène returned to his love of traditional gypsy swing. Over the next decade, he made occassional forays into fusion, while continuing to balance his love of Django Reinhardt, straight-ahead jazz and bop influences. He also kept a steady live schedule, appearing live at Marciac in 1994 and at New York's Blue Note in 1997 with Larry Coryell and Billy Cobham. In 1998, he issued the Frank Sinatra tribute Old Blues Eyes, with pianist Maurice Vander, bassist Chris Minh Doky, and drummer Ceccarelli. In 2002, he issued Gypsy Project, yet another album that found him returning to Reinhardt and the classic jazz songbook. Similar albums followed, including 2005's Move, 2006's Djangology, and 2007's Just the Way You Are. A year later, he issued the fusion-influenced Electric Side.
He then paired with guitarist Hono Winterstein and bassist Diego Imbert for 2009's Gipsi Trio. That same year, he also released his own Summertime. In 2012, he recorded a straight-ahead jazz set for Universal entitled Mouvements with saxophonist Franck Wolf, drummer Jean-Marc Robin, and Hammond organist Jean-Yves Jung. Also in 2012, Lagrène was asked to participate in the 50th career anniversary celebration for violinist Jean-Luc Ponty, during which he appeared in a trio with Ponty and bassist Stanley Clarke. Inspired by their chemistry on stage that night, the trio stayed in touch, and in 2015 paired again for the studio album D-Stringz on Impulse! In 2018, the guitarist issued Storyteller, featuring bassist Larry Grenadier and percussionist Mino Cinélu.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bir%C3%A9li-lagr%C3%A8ne-mn0000082316/biography
For the album 'Guitar Heroes', Joscho Stephan invited the guitarists Tommy Emmanuel, Biréli Lagrène and Stochelo Rosenberg into the studio. The result was a fascinating mixture of standards and original compositions that were not only rooted in swinging jazz, but also built a bridge to rock, pop and Latin music.
The desire for a live album with a similar concept quickly arose, which is now available. In addition to Stochelo Rosenberg and Biréli Lagrène, Olli Soikkeli and Richard Smith can also be heard. Together with Joscho's trio, 12 titles were selected from a total of 4 concerts. Swing a'la Django Reinhardt and Bossa rhythms are perfectly represented by the Dutch guitar legend Stochelo Rosenberg and the young Finnish guitar virtuoso Olli Soikkeli. In addition to original compositions, classics should not be missing. The 'Fingerpicking Champion' Richard Smith provides a contrast to this. Biréli Lagrène shows once again why he has been one of the leading guitarists on the European music scene for 40 years.
The 'Live Heroes' are even more hands-on than in the studio. The playfulness and improvisational desire of all players are always breathtaking, as a counterpoint there are just as many quiet and soulful moments, so that the music reflects a perfect balance of the original performances.
Joscho Stephan is well known on the international guitar scene as one of the most creative gypsy-swing players. With a powerful tone and remarkable technical skills, he has an instantly recognizable voice on his instrument. He’s also not afraid to combine gypsy swing with a lot of different styles, like klezmer, pop or classical music.
One of Joscho’s longtime dreams has been to record an album of songs written by his “guitar heroes.” When he started to work on the project, he thought it would be even more fun to invite the “heroes” of the current guitar scene to the studio with him. So on this new record, Joscho is joined by three world-class guitarists — Australian guitar legend Tommy Emmanuel, Dutch gypsy swing icon Stochelo Rosenberg, and French “guitar phenomenon” Biréli Lagréne. Together, they present Joscho’s own compositions, along with famous tunes in the style of gypsy swing with rock, jazz, and funk influences. The album includes pieces written by such great guitarists as Django Reinhardt, Carlos Santana and George Harrison, plus pieces successfully interpreted by the likes of Jimi Hendrix (“Hey Joe”) and George Benson (“Breezin”).
https://www.joscho-stephan.de/en/shop/guitar-heroes/
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Joscho Stephan es conocido en la escena internacional de la guitarra como uno de los músicos más creativos del movimiento gitano. Con un tono poderoso y notables habilidades técnicas, tiene una voz instantáneamente reconocible en su instrumento. Tampoco tiene miedo de combinar el swing gitano con muchos estilos diferentes, como el klezmer, el pop o la música clásica.
Uno de los sueños de Joscho ha sido grabar un álbum de canciones escritas por sus "guitar heroes". Cuando empezó a trabajar en el proyecto, pensó que sería aún más divertido invitar al estudio con él a los "héroes" de la escena guitarrística actual. Así que en este nuevo disco, Joscho está acompañado por tres guitarristas de clase mundial - la leyenda de la guitarra australiana Tommy Emmanuel, el icono del swing gitano holandés Stochelo Rosenberg, y el "fenómeno de la guitarra" francés Biréli Lagréne. Juntos, presentan las composiciones propias de Joscho, junto con famosas melodías al estilo del swing gitano con influencias de rock, jazz y funk. El álbum incluye piezas escritas por grandes guitarristas como Django Reinhardt, Carlos Santana y George Harrison, además de piezas interpretadas con éxito por Jimi Hendrix ("Hey Joe") y George Benson ("Breezin").
https://www.joscho-stephan.de/en/shop/guitar-heroes/
www.joscho-stephan ...
Highly
acclaimed violinist Sandro Roy invited friends like Bireli Lagrene,
Martin Taylor, David Gazarov, Jermaine Landsberger and other wonderful
musicians for his 3rd album - a hot mixture of swinging melodies,
classical ballads and energetic Gypsy Jazz.
www.sandro-roy.com ...
The Rosenberg Trio from the Netherlands is regarded by many as the leading ensemble in the musical genre of Manouche Swing or Gypsy Jazz , a genre that owes its very existence to Django Reinhardt. Since their childhood days, Stochelo, Nous che and Nonnie have been playing together at family reunions, religious celebrations and other events. Following the great gypsy musical tradition, the three cousins were taught to play by ear and to practice restlessly, playing the classics over and over again. After the release of their first album, Seresta (1989), their career has taken them worldwide. Violin master Stéphane Grappelli who was Django s partner for many years, adopted the Rosenbergs as his working band and brought them to New York s Carnegie Hall to celebrate his 85th birthday on stage (1993). They are absolutely the best of all gypsy jazz musicians I have played with in all my life, Grappelli said. For their tribute to Django on the occasion of his 100th birthday, the Rosenbergs unite with Biréli Lagrène, probably the greatest and most original solo guitarist coming out of the Gypsy Jazz school. Biréli is a hero to me, says Stochelo Rosenberg about his guest who shares the soloist s role with Stochelo on four tunes and is featured on electric bass on another one. The Rosenberg Trio with Bireli Lagrene Djangologists ENJ95582 >> 063757955825 >> CD+DVD digipack Rather than putting the focus on Django s most famous compositions, Djangologists the Rosenberg Trio s fifteenth album hails the spirit that has guided Django s work, digging into the less known, the unexpected and the unpredictable. It is a tribute to the master paid by masters. The enclosed DVD shows the musicians in the studio while recording this important project and also offers nice interviews with them reflecting their love for Django s music.
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El Trío Rosenberg, de los Países Bajos, está considerado por muchos como el conjunto más importante del género musical Manouche Swing o Gypsy Jazz , un género que debe su existencia a Django Reinhardt. Desde su infancia, Stochelo, Nous che y Nonnie han tocado juntos en reuniones familiares, celebraciones religiosas y otros eventos. Siguiendo la gran tradición musical gitana, los tres primos aprendieron a tocar de oído y a practicar sin descanso, tocando los clásicos una y otra vez. Tras la publicación de su primer álbum, Seresta (1989), su carrera les ha llevado por todo el mundo. El maestro del violín Stéphane Grappelli, que fue compañero de Django durante muchos años, adoptó a los Rosenberg como su banda de trabajo y los llevó al Carnegie Hall de Nueva York para celebrar su 85º cumpleaños en el escenario (1993). Son absolutamente los mejores músicos de jazz gitano con los que he tocado en toda mi vida, dijo Grappelli. Para su homenaje a Django con motivo de su centenario, los Rosenberg se unen a Biréli Lagrène, probablemente el más grande y original guitarrista solista salido de la escuela de Gypsy Jazz. Biréli es un héroe para mí", dice Stochelo Rosenberg sobre su invitado, que comparte el papel de solista con Stochelo en cuatro temas y aparece con el bajo eléctrico en otro. El Trío Rosenberg con Bireli Lagrene Djangologists ENJ95582 >> 063757955825 >> CD+DVD digipack En lugar de centrarse en las composiciones más famosas de Django, Djangologists, el decimoquinto álbum del Trío Rosenberg, celebra el espíritu que ha guiado la obra de Django, indagando en lo menos conocido, lo inesperado y lo imprevisible. Es un homenaje al maestro pagado por los maestros. El DVD adjunto muestra a los músicos en el estudio durante la grabación de este importante proyecto y también ofrece agradables entrevistas con ellos que reflejan su amor por la música de Django.
Colaborador / Contributor: Mich58
Biography
Bireli Lagrene was born on September 4, 1966 in Saverne, Alsace, France. The son of Fiso Lagrene, a popular guitarist in pre-war France, Lagrene displayed a prodigious talent as a very young child. Born into a gypsy community, his origins and his fleet, inventive playing style inevitably generated comparisons with Django Reinhardt. In 1978, he won a prize at a festival at Strasbourg and subsequently made a big impact during a televised gypsy festival.
In his early teenage years Lagrene toured extensively playing concerts and festivals across Europe, often accompanied by distinguished jazz artists such as Benny Carter, Benny Goodman, Stéphane Grappelli and Niels- Henning Orsted Pedersen. He also made his first record Routes To Django, which helped to prove that early estimates of his capabilities were not excessive.
An outstanding technician, Lagrene has revealed influences other than Reinhardt, happily incorporating bebop phraseology, rock rhythms and Brazilian music into his work. By the late 80s he had moved substantially from his early Reinhardt-style to fully embrace jazz-rock and other electronically-aided fusions.
Lagrene returned to his roots with such brilliant offerings as 1994’s My Favorite Django and 1998’s Blue Eyes as well as violinist Didier Lockwood’s 2000 recording Tribute To Stephane Grappelli and last year’s highly acclaimed Gypsy Project, which eminent jazz critic Gary Giddins hailed as “electrifying... represents his best work in years.” On Gipsy Project & Friends, Bireli burns a blue streak on the knucklebuster “Babik,” a blistering uptempo ode composed by Django for his guitar-playing son Babik Reinhardt. Elsewhere, Bireli reveals his deep gypsy soul on the mournful minor key “Ou Es-Tu Mon Amour” and the haunting ballad “Laura,” composed by David Raskin and Johnny Mercer for the 1944 film of the same name. He oozes sheer joie de swingon infectious showstoppers like “Djangology,” “Les Yeux Noirs,” “Minor Swing” (catch Bireli’s playful, tongue-in-cheek intro to that Django anthem) and “Artillerie Lourde,” reprising the buoyantly swinging spirit of the Hot Club of France alongside the remarkable violinist Florin Niculescu, who reads Bireli’s mind the way Stephane Grappelli read Django’s. Special guest Henri Salvador lends his velvety smooth French crooning style to the seductive ballad “Envie de Toi.”
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/bireli-lagrene
///////
Biografía
Bireli Lagrene nació el 4 de septiembre de 1966 en Saverne, Alsacia, Francia. Hijo de Fiso Lagrene, un popular guitarrista de la Francia de antes de la guerra, Lagrene mostró un talento prodigioso desde muy joven. Nacido en el seno de una comunidad gitana, sus orígenes y su estilo de tocar rápido e inventivo generaron inevitablemente comparaciones con Django Reinhardt. En 1978, ganó un premio en un festival de Estrasburgo y posteriormente causó un gran impacto durante un festival gitano televisado.
En sus primeros años de adolescencia, Lagrene realizó numerosas giras de conciertos y festivales por toda Europa, a menudo acompañado por distinguidos artistas de jazz como Benny Carter, Benny Goodman, Stéphane Grappelli y Niels- Henning Orsted Pedersen. También grabó su primer disco Routes To Django, que contribuyó a demostrar que las primeras estimaciones de sus capacidades no eran excesivas.
Técnico excepcional, Lagrene ha revelado otras influencias además de Reinhardt, incorporando felizmente a su obra la fraseología del bebop, los ritmos del rock y la música brasileña. A finales de los años 80, Lagrene se alejó considerablemente de su estilo Reinhardt inicial para abrazar plenamente el jazz-rock y otras fusiones con ayuda de la electrónica.
Lagrene volvió a sus raíces con propuestas tan brillantes como My Favorite Django, de 1994, y Blue Eyes, de 1998, así como con la grabación Tribute To Stephane Grappelli, del violinista Didier Lockwood, de 2000, y con el aclamado Gypsy Project, del año pasado, que el eminente crítico de jazz Gary Giddins calificó de "electrizante... representa su mejor trabajo en años". En Gipsy Project & Friends, Bireli se luce en el tema "Babik", una oda a la velocidad del viento compuesta por Django para su hijo guitarrista Babik Reinhardt. Por otra parte, Bireli revela su profunda alma gitana en el lúgubre tono menor "Ou Es-Tu Mon Amour" y la inquietante balada "Laura", compuesta por David Raskin y Johnny Mercer para la película de 1944 del mismo nombre. Rezuma pura alegría de swing en contagiosas piezas como "Djangology", "Les Yeux Noirs", "Minor Swing" (obsérvese la divertida e irónica introducción de Bireli a ese himno de Django) y "Artillerie Lourde", que reproduce el espíritu alegremente oscilante del Hot Club de Francia junto al notable violinista Florin Niculescu, que lee la mente de Bireli como Stephane Grappelli leía la de Django. El invitado especial Henri Salvador presta su aterciopelado estilo de crooning francés a la seductora balada "Envie de Toi".
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/bireli-lagrene
peeweelabel.com ...
Biography
Bireli
Lagrene was born on September 4, 1966 in Saverne, Alsace, France. The
son of Fiso Lagrene, a popular guitarist in pre-war France, Lagrene
displayed a prodigious talent as a very young child. Born into a gypsy
community, his origins and his fleet, inventive playing style inevitably
generated comparisons with Django Reinhardt. In 1978, he won a prize at
a festival at Strasbourg and subsequently made a big impact during a
televised gypsy festival.
In his early teenage years Lagrene
toured extensively playing concerts and festivals across Europe, often
accompanied by distinguished jazz artists such as Benny Carter, Benny
Goodman, Stéphane Grappelli and Niels- Henning Orsted Pedersen. He also
made his first record Routes To Django, which helped to prove that early
estimates of his capabilities were not excessive.
An outstanding
technician, Lagrene has revealed influences other than Reinhardt,
happily incorporating bebop phraseology, rock rhythms and Brazilian
music into his work. By the late 80s he had moved substantially from his
early Reinhardt-style to fully embrace jazz-rock and other
electronically-aided fusions.
Lagrene returned to his roots with
such brilliant offerings as 1994’s My Favorite Django and 1998’s Blue
Eyes as well as violinist Didier Lockwood’s 2000 recording Tribute To
Stephane Grappelli and last year’s highly acclaimed Gypsy Project, which
eminent jazz critic Gary Giddins hailed as “electrifying... represents
his best work in years.” On Gipsy Project & Friends, Bireli burns a
blue streak on the knucklebuster “Babik,” a blistering uptempo ode
composed by Django for his guitar-playing son Babik Reinhardt.
Elsewhere, Bireli reveals his deep gypsy soul on the mournful minor key
“Ou Es-Tu Mon Amour” and the haunting ballad “Laura,” composed by David
Raskin and Johnny Mercer for the 1944 film of the same name. He oozes
sheer joie de swingon infectious showstoppers like “Djangology,” “Les
Yeux Noirs,” “Minor Swing” (catch Bireli’s playful, tongue-in-cheek
intro to that Django anthem) and “Artillerie Lourde,” reprising the
buoyantly swinging spirit of the Hot Club of France alongside the
remarkable violinist Florin Niculescu, who reads Bireli’s mind the way
Stephane Grappelli read Django’s. Special guest Henri Salvador lends his
velvety smooth French crooning style to the seductive ballad “Envie de
Toi.”
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/bireli-lagrene
///////
Biografía
Bireli
Lagrene nació el 4 de septiembre de 1966 en Saverne, Alsacia, Francia.
Hijo de Fiso Lagrene, un popular guitarrista de la Francia de antes de
la guerra, Lagrene mostró un talento prodigioso desde muy joven. Nacido
en el seno de una comunidad gitana, sus orígenes y su estilo de tocar
rápido e inventivo generaron inevitablemente comparaciones con Django
Reinhardt. En 1978, ganó un premio en un festival de Estrasburgo y
posteriormente causó un gran impacto durante un festival gitano
televisado.
En sus primeros años de adolescencia, Lagrene realizó
numerosas giras de conciertos y festivales por toda Europa, a menudo
acompañado por distinguidos artistas de jazz como Benny Carter, Benny
Goodman, Stéphane Grappelli y Niels- Henning Orsted Pedersen. También
grabó su primer disco Routes To Django, que contribuyó a demostrar que
las primeras estimaciones de sus capacidades no eran excesivas.
Técnico
excepcional, Lagrene ha revelado otras influencias además de Reinhardt,
incorporando felizmente a su obra la fraseología del bebop, los ritmos
del rock y la música brasileña. A finales de los años 80, Lagrene se
alejó considerablemente de su estilo Reinhardt inicial para abrazar
plenamente el jazz-rock y otras fusiones con ayuda de la electrónica.
Lagrene
volvió a sus raíces con propuestas tan brillantes como My Favorite
Django, de 1994, y Blue Eyes, de 1998, así como con la grabación Tribute
To Stephane Grappelli, del violinista Didier Lockwood, de 2000, y con
el aclamado Gypsy Project, del año pasado, que el eminente crítico de
jazz Gary Giddins calificó de "electrizante... representa su mejor
trabajo en años". En Gipsy Project & Friends, Bireli se luce en el
tema "Babik", una oda a la velocidad del viento compuesta por Django
para su hijo guitarrista Babik Reinhardt. Por otra parte, Bireli revela
su profunda alma gitana en el lúgubre tono menor "Ou Es-Tu Mon Amour" y
la inquietante balada "Laura", compuesta por David Raskin y Johnny
Mercer para la película de 1944 del mismo nombre. Rezuma pura alegría de
swing en contagiosas piezas como "Djangology", "Les Yeux Noirs", "Minor
Swing" (obsérvese la divertida e irónica introducción de Bireli a ese
himno de Django) y "Artillerie Lourde", que reproduce el espíritu
alegremente oscilante del Hot Club de Francia junto al notable
violinista Florin Niculescu, que lee la mente de Bireli como Stephane
Grappelli leía la de Django. El invitado especial Henri Salvador presta
su aterciopelado estilo de crooning francés a la seductora balada "Envie
de Toi".
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/bireli-lagrene