Bireli

Multiquarium Big Band feat. Biréli Lagrène: Remerbering Jaco is a tribute to Jaco Pastorius’s music, made by André Charlier (drums) and Benoit Sourisse (piano) from the Multiquarium Big Band, one of the best French Big Bands. Jaco Pastorius is a big star in the Jazz-Rock scene (and beyond), an icon for bass players all around the world, the one who brought to electric bass the possibility of becoming in some cases, a soloist instrument in a band. Jaco Pastorius made very famous solo albums and wrote amazing big band music. He played with Pat Metheny, Joni Mitchell but was also a very important member of the famous Jazz-rock band, Weather Report with Wayne Shorter, Joe Zawinul, Peter Erskine (who contributes some spoken word to this album!) The virtuoso gypsy guitar player, Biréli Lagrène, has been invited to play electric fretless bass on the album.

French guitarist Bireli Lagrene's recent work has helped to reinvigorate the classic gypsy swing style while simultaneously adding excitement and diversity to the world's jazz market. On Move, Lagrene and his Gipsy Project really spice up his Django Reinhardt-influenced chops and cleverly arrange some of the more memorable standards and jazz styles launched on America's shores including bebop and cool. There are so many exceptional works in the Great American Songbook that it would be almost irresponsible not to include a few in one's repertoire. "Cherokee," and "This Can't Be Love," make the cut this time as two carefully placed covers that add familiarity to Lagrene's set…

My Favorite Django is a sincere and respectful homage from a guitarist at the absolute top of his form, surrounded by equally high-ranking musicians. Listening to Django’s nine tunes reprised, one by Joseph Kosma as well one by Bireli himself (modestly entitled Solo), it is easy to say that the famous gypsy guitarist would play something like this today – just like Django’s son, Babik – to whom the disc is dedicated – said in a recent interview, “If my father were still alive, I am sure he would enjoy playing the guitar synthesiser.” This is for anyone who might think that Bireli Lagrène is ‘betraying’ the spirit of Reinhardt’s iconic compositions.

Recorded shortly before his playing began to change, this Antilles release features guitarist Bireli Lagrene at the age of 15 jamming in the difficult-to-duplicate style of Django Reinhardt. Lagrene, who was one of the best Reinhardt soundalikes ever, is featured in small groups with other Europeans and sounds at his early best on "Sweet Georgia Brown," "Dark Eyes," "Blues for Bireli" and "I Can't Give You Anything but Love." It is a pity that Lagrene (who is so brilliant in this context) does not play this way very often anymore.

Bireli Lagrene's debut on record is extraordinary in a couple of ways. He sounds like an exact duplicate of Django Reinhardt (no easy feat), an accomplishment that is more shocking when one realizes that he was 13 at the time. Already a virtuoso with complete control of his guitar, Lagrene (who like Reinhardt came from a gypsy family) romps through the swing-oriented set with a variety of lesser-known European musicians, including two rhythm guitars, bass, occasional piano, vibes, trumpet, and violin. Performances of such tunes as "All of Me," "I've Found a New Baby," and "My Melancholy Baby" are guaranteed to fool even experts on blindfold tests.

Biréli Lagrène - Electric Side - 2008
Label: Dreyfus Jazz | MP3 VBR~256 Kbps | 105 MB
Genre: Jazz/Fusion

Bireli Lagrene's New Album
Electric Side, the new album by guitar great Birli Lagrne, finds the artist reconnecting with his jazz/rock persona, in the spirit of his 1980's collaborations with Jaco Pastorius. The sound is an exciting and unique update on contemporary jazz sounds, featuring wonderful new Bireli Lagrne compositions, and an incredible cover of Herbie Hancock's “Jack Rabbit." For the recording, Birli has recruited bassist Hadrien Feraud, the “young Jaco" (John McLaughlin) and winner of 2008 DownBeat Critics' Poll (Rising Star, Electric Bass). Also with him are Franck Wolf from the Gipsy Project on saxophones; also Andy Narell on the steelpans, Damien Schmitt on drums, and some sample touches by DJ Afro Cut-Nanga.
Electric Side is a thrilling look at Birli's plugged-in persona', a fusion/jazz/prog delight that will appeal to fans of Birli, Jaco, McLaughlin, Steely Dan, Weather Report, King Crimson, Zappa, and so forth.

Grand Jazzman, Biréli Lagrène a joué avec les plus grands, tels Didier Lockwood, Richard Galliano et a obtenu des récompenses prestigieuses, parmi lesquelles les Django d'or, les Victoires de la Musique.