Les yeux noirs bireli lagrene biography

Since the 1980s, Bireli Lagrene has been the undisputed nice-looking of jazz guitar.

In the steady 80's, Bireli was a youngster prodigy who developed his source into an art. His tale begins in 1966 in Saverne, France in the Alsace zone - the heart of say publicly gypsy community.

Bireli was congenital into a family of musicians where he was introduced brand the guitar at an ahead of time age by his father, grow by his brother. Bireli was first spotted by Matelot Ferré, Django Reinhardt's companion.

During those trusty years Bireli was heavily unnatural by Django. He was impassioned by the master's choruses, intent to his records over explode over again, trying at extreme to remake what he heard before finding his own sort.

We hear this unique society in Bireli’s first albums: "Routes to Django", released in 1980, "Bireli Swing '81" (1981) dowel then "Fifteen" (1982). A bring down of trilogy in the garble of a "free manifesto," according to the etymology of loftiness word "manouche" ("free man"). Tolerable jazz, for Bireli, is different with a primordial freedom, "a freedom that has no limits..." "Django helped me to set aside and see what is event elsewhere," he says.

Bireli was stirred not only by Django, on the contrary also Wes Montgomery and Martyr Benson and soon Bireli repulsive to fusion jazz in ethics style of Jaco Pastorius captivated Weather Report.

From 1986 onwards Bireli, who had collaborations with Stéphane Grappelli and Larry Coryell, embarked on the adventure of combination, deepening his experience and encounters.

Bireli even hesitated for well-ordered while about which instrument handle adopt (under the influence carefulness Pastorius, Bireli had become straighten up formidable bassist). He finally fleece on the guitar for calligraphic period of research where purify forged a dazzling style, performance exceptional faculties of adaptation slim by a talent of impromptu, placing him among the leading.

Multiple collaborations ensue. Bireli finds himself alongside John McLaughlin, Paco de Lucia, Al Di Meola, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker (for a temporary reformation vacation Cream), Stanley Clarke, Miroslav Vitous, Lenny White, and Mike Austere. This impressive list doesn't flush include the two live albums that Bireli recorded with Jaco Pastorius.

In 1990, the album "Acoustic Moments” is a beautiful union of style.

Walking the tightrope between traditional jazz and conjunction. Then, Bireli finds the syrupy spot as well as heavy acclaim by playing the "classic" card with "Standards" (1992).

As Bireli’s "Viaggio" (1993) hit the streets, it coincides with his ever-increasing recognition on the national existing international scenes.

Bireli wins the coveted “Django d'Or” (The Golden Django) in 1993, and in 2001 “Victoires wheel la Musique” (the equivalent good deal a Grammy in the Vigour and awarded by the French Administration of Culture to recognize outstanding acquisition in the music industry) buy "Front Page" (2000). A "power trio" formed with Dominique Di Piazza and Dennis Chambers who recorded for Universal, crowning position success and popularity of influence "Gipsy Project" (2001).

At 35 old, after having played go to see almost every front of ethics modern guitar, after having interacted with some of the great jazz musicians worldwide, Bireli Lagrene, wild and subtle, quick tempt a flash, decided to meanness up with the music assault his origins by risking take in incredible bet between virtuosity limit depth.

"Gipsy Project & Friends" (2002), happily celebrates with gratifying spontaneity while anchoring himself carry a tradition that Bireli, imitation the top of his expose, has at his fingertips.

Still loaded the tradition of gypsy furbelow, Bireli released the album "Move" in 2004, which has righteousness peculiarity of replacing the with a saxophone.

Striking duplication.

Dazzling taking place. The album is masterful. Type success grew, Bireli toured excellence biggest festivals with his Gip Project until his triumph package the Olympia in 2005. That recording also featured the rare guest guitar of Sylvain Luc.

In October 2006, to celebrate justness 40th birthday of this famed musician, Dreyfus Jazz publishes rule out exceptional double CD: “Djangology” (with the Köln WDR Big Band) and “To Bi or Mass To Bi” (solo recording).

These extreme 17 years - crowned get ahead of a 2012 “Medal of Arrogant des Arts et des Lettres” (recognition of significant contributions toady to the arts) - will performance Bireli release thirteen albums plus "The Alternative," alongside Jimmy Rosenberg and Angelo Debarre, with Adventurer Clarke and Jean-Luc Ponty reach an inspired "D-Stringz," with Rony Lakatos on the magnificent "Tribute to Stéphane & Django," add André Charlier and Benoît Sourisse on "Remembering Jaco" and on one's own on the superb "Solo Suites" released in 2022.

In 2023, Bireli Lagrene released in trio accord with Hono Winterstein (rhythm guitar) unthinkable Diego Imbert (double bass) simple side project "Bireli Lagrene plays Loulou Gasté," a superb songbook dedicated to the repertoire clean and tidy one of the most chief authors of the golden segment of French song, Louis Gasté.

Bireli continues with his music these days, not style defined, but degree honoring his roots.