“one of the most remarkable guitar players on this planet.” – London Jazz News
French guitarist Biréli Lagrène is lauded worldwide for his evolving blend of swinging continental jazz, post-bop, and fusion. When he released his album Routes to Django: Live in 1980, critics immediately praised the thirteen-year-old jazz guitarist as a protégé of Django Reinhardt. While he has broadened his approach, he is best known for his inspired renderings of the hot club style.
Lagrène was born in Alsace in 1966 and was nearly immediately drawn to the guitar and the sounds of Reinhardt. Biréli was transfixed by Django’s incredible blend of strength and precision. Thus, his first major public appearances earned him the title of Reinhardt protégé.
Throughout the 1990s, Lagrène matured and grew as an artist, playing standards and classical music. His albums and live performances from this period are nothing short of revelatory. However, Lagrène could not resist the irresistible sound of the hot club style and returned to his roots in the early 2000s. This time, Lagrène strives to transcend pure virtuosity to achieve a higher order of quality.
Martin Taylor is widely considered to be the world’s foremost exponent of solo jazz and fingerstyle guitar playing. Also, Taylor possesses an inimitable style that has earned him global acclaim from fellow musicians, fans and critics alike. He dazzles audiences with a signature style that artfully combines his virtuosity, emotion and humor with a strong, engaging stage presence.
Taylor brings a rich and varied musical heritage to his playing. Moreover, Tommy Emmanuel remarked that [Taylor] is “a portal into all that came before.” Over his stellar career, Taylor has amassed a record fourteen British Jazz Awards as a guitarist. Additionally, several of his albums have reached the Top Ten in the USA and Europe.
Recommended for Fans of Django Reinhardt, Dorado Schmitt, Joe Pass and Al Di Meola.
LEARN MORE: https://birelilagrene.com/
📸: Alexandre Lacombe
- Genre:
- Jazz
