Biréli Lagrène

[EKE BBB]

The other day I was riding on my car listening to Radio 3, and they played most of his last disc. I was highly impressed by his playing, which comes directly from Django Reinhardt (I´m a great fan of Django, BTW).

I´ve decided to pick a few of his discs. Could you recommend some of them?

Biréli Lagrène Official Website

Thanks in advance!

[EKE BBB]

Oops, now I´ve seen you can listen to (but not download) a lot of tracks from some of his albums on MP3 format from his website.

[Joe G]

The only one I have is pretty nice: Duet, with Sylvan Luc.

[neveronfriday]

Hi,

the "Duet" one is nice, yes, but, Agustín, try this one:

The Complete Gipsy Project. Dreyfus 2003 (2 CD)

It's got what you'd like in a nutshell.

Excellent CD, collecting his Swing stuff (from that project). Love it.

I got it for 9 Euro on sale somewhere ... quite THE bargain.

Cheers!

P.S.: Haven't been able to find that one the regular way yet. Seems to be a bit more rare. I'll check elsewhere. Will post some links here if I find any.

Link with clips:

http://www.amazon.de/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000...4241582-7144844

Edited: factual error

Edited November 19, 2004 by deus62

[Alon Marcus]

A few words about this guy. He was a child prodigy playing in the style of Django (technically spectacular but somehow monotonous). Later he started recording for Blue Note (it was in the eighties and mainly fusion) and sometimes sounded heavy influenced by Metheny. After Bireli found his own voice he finally became one of the best guitarists (not only in Europe). His best recording shows technical perfection with smooth and fast bebop lines, lots of chord solos and great articulation. This is his trio called "Standards" with NHOP and Cecarreli. He took the best from Kessel, Pass and Benson and built something original.

"My favorite Django" is also a good record. Surprisingly the only connection to the old master is his compositions. The album arranged with rock rhythms supplied by Anthony Jackson and Steve Gad. Bireli plays great.

Somehow less successful is his "Blue eyes". This is a lame tribute to Sinatra. He tries to sing in his style and improvise like George Benson (playing and singing simultaneously). The only good parts are where he just plays.

The live trio album is scary. He shows too much technique there.

Bireli works today with a European label called Dreyfus. This year they published a live show that was recorded with: Petrucciani, Marcus Miller, Kenny Garrett and Lagrene. IMHO one of the best albums this year. Contains three long jams with truly inspired statements by all participants.

The album with Sylvan Luc that was mentioned is also great.

[EKE BBB]

  ztrauq22 said:

...He was a child prodigy playing in the style of Django (technically spectacular but somehow monotonous)....

This is quite biased, IMHO! If Django´s music doesn´t have swing, who on hell has?

[Alon Marcus]

  EKE BBB said:

  ztrauq22 said:

...He was a child prodigy playing in the style of Django (technically spectacular but somehow monotonous)....

This is quite biased, IMHO! If Django´s music doesn´t have swing, who on hell has?

I wasn't talking about Django! I think that Bireli's records as a child prodigy are monotonous.

Edited November 20, 2004 by ztrauq22

[neveronfriday]

  ztrauq22 said:

I wasn't talking about Django! I thing that Bireli's records as a child prodigy are monotonous.

That's absolutely true. And also some later stuff is just dreary.

But his "Gipsy Project"(s) and other recordings of a similar nature are fabulous.

Cheers!

[brownie]

  deus62 said:

  ztrauq22 said:

I wasn't talking about Django! I thing that Bireli's records as a child prodigy are monotonous.

That's absolutely true. And also some later stuff is just dreary.

But his "Gipsy Project"(s) and other recordings of a similar nature are fabulous.

Cheers!

Deus et al, thanks for the advice. I gave up on Birelli Lagrene a long time ago (as far back as his child prodigy music). Will give a listen to some of the Gipsy Project output!

[Aggie87]

I like both of the Gypsy Project albums alot! Is that new one, "Move", available yet?

And I also enjoy the "Front Page" release,l which is a trio recording with Dominique DiPiazza and Dennis Chambers, and guests John McLaughlin on one track. I'm not sure whether it's ever had a U.S. release though.

He also did some fusiony stuff (ok, we can call it rock) with Jaco on the Jazzpoint label. I have some of these recordings, which Jazzpoint released as two-fers a couple of years ago, and are still available on their website. They're fun to pull out and listen to from time to time, but aren't the best of either Bireli or Jaco. I prefer the Gypsy Project stuff and the Standards album as well.

This one includes "Live in Italy", and "Honestly".

This one includes both the "Heavy N Jazz" album and "Stuttgart Aria".

[EKE BBB]

  ztrauq22 said:

  EKE BBB said:

  ztrauq22 said:

...He was a child prodigy playing in the style of Django (technically spectacular but somehow monotonous)....

This is quite biased, IMHO! If Django´s music doesn´t have swing, who on hell has?

I wasn't talking about Django! I thing that Bireli's records as a child prodigy are monotonous.

Sorry, I misunderstood your post! :rsmile:

I can´t comment on early Biréli as I haven´t heard that stuff.

"Move" has some quite impressing uptempo numbers and all the tracks I´ve heard have a very contagious swing!

Edited November 19, 2004 by EKE BBB

[paul secor]

I remember Gary Giddins playing up Bireli Lagrene's early stuff as something like Django reborn. I bought one of them, couldn't hear that at all, and have stayed away since.

[Aggie87]

bump up...

Bireli's on a U.S. tour right now, with his Gypsy Project, and will be playing in Austin tomorrow night. If I had caught this sooner, I'd have been in the front row. He's playing at the Hogg Memorial Auditorium at U.T. If anyone's in the area, I think it would be worth the ticket price to check him out.

Apr 28th - Austin TX

Apr 29th - San Diego CA

May 1st - Los Angeles CA

May 3rd - Santa Barbera CA

May 5th - Santa Cruz CA

May 6th - Davis CA

May 8th - Berkeley CA

May 11 - 15 - at the Iridium, NYC

[Jim R]

Anybody who gave up on Lagrene after hearing him only as a youngster might want to check him out now. He's still not among my favorites, but he has definitely blossomed as a musician. He still has chops galore, but from what I've heard in recent years (sorry, haven't focused enough to say exactly what I heard), he's learned to harness the temptation to show off the chops and play music.

[DMP]

One of his Blue Note albums was a straight-ahead trio affair - might have been called "Standards" - it was beautiful! (I'll have to pull it off the shelf when I get home.)

[Aggie87]

Dreyfus has a new Bireli Lagrene live set out. It's two discs, one solo, and one with the WDR Big Band. Niceley recorded! The solo set is a compilation of tracks from various performances, but holds together well, and the big band date is a Django tribute (naturally) from either 05 or 06.

[Aggie87]

If you enjoyed the previous duet disc with Syvlain Luc, the one released earlier this year, "Summertime", is well worth picking up. Some very nice treatments of the title track, So What, Wave, Spain, Green Dolphin Street, and other standards.

He's already got another release that's just come out, Gipsy Trio. Gonna have to check that one out as well.