Bireli Lagrene at 12 years old
Bireli Lagrene was a 13 year old guitar prodigy when he recorded his first album, "Routes to Django" in 1980. I first heard Bireli four or five years ago when a friend of mine came back from Paris raving about a small club show she had seen. The intimate show was Bireli jamming and improvising with a couple of other musicians, and the incredible virtuosity he displayed caused her to return to the U.S. and buy every record of his she could get her hands on. We would sit on her back porch, smoking and drinking red wine, freaking out on the talented sounds wafting from the speakers. Since the release of "Routes to Django", Bireli matured and began to step away from emulating Django Reinhardt (which wasn't a bad thing, considering the skill it takes to sound even a little like Django). On some of his more recent albums, Bireli showed he could swing from be-bop to Brazilian with ease. He has played with everyone from Jaco Pastorius and Stephane Grappelli to Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker. I highly recommend the albums "Live in Marciac", "Swing '81" and "Gypsy Project". I haven't actually heard a Bireli album I didn't enjoy, and if you love jazz guitar you owe it to yourself to check him out.
Here is an MP3 of a young Bireli jamming on I Can't Give You Anything But Love
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Awesome, I just love Django Reinhardt and if this guy also channels Wes Montgomery, I'm sure to be hooked.
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Django! Paco! Jaco! Grappelli!...if he'd played with Pat Methaney and Leland Sklar, I would've spontaneously combusted...(ditto on the Wes Montgomery thing Dennis)...this kid sounds hella-promising and I'll look out for him...thanks for pullin' my coat... -cP
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There's a huge amount of Django Reinhart and gypsy swing inspired music in this neck of the woods, mostly spreading outward from Marc Atkinson (he used to teach in town, and has a zillion bands). If you're into that stuff, I really like the three Marc Atkinson Trio albums.
They range from straight up Django-y fireworks (e.g., Pic Pocket) to more restrained acoustic guitar jazz (e.g., a version of The Mooche), to some world/folk influenced stuff (e.g., A Fire in the Rain). Lots of original compositions too.Both Bireli and Marc are playing DjangoFest Northwest at the end of the month, actually.
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i want to be a prodigy
dammit
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i have watched this dvd, and it is wonderful.
LIVE JAZZ VIENNE
Filmed in front of 8,000 rabid fans, Live Jazz Vienne captures one of the worlds greatest guitar players in an all-out Gipsy Guitar explosion! Joined by his world renowned Gipsy Project group, Bireli tears up the frets on 35 hot numbers, including several Django Reinhardt favorites and other Gipsy Jazz classics.
www.dreyfusrecords.com
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that's seriously insane, I'm going to keep an eye out for that name.
Speaking of Django, heres a fun little clip:
http://blogfiles.wfmu.org/KF/2006/02/hot_club.mov
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Just wanted to drop by and say thank you for the warm welcome!! It's marvelous to be here :) And I shall surely keep in mind posting about the Waits' show.
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plucky and phunky, thanks for this top
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You should check out Bireli's playing on Spaces Revisted, released under Larry Coryell's name (Larry, coincidentlly, gave me guitar lessons when I was 17. A very cool guy.)
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Bireli is a jaw-dropper, for sure. Guys like that scare the pants off me.