Bireli Lagrene

Bireli Lagrene,

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About Bireli Lagrene

Born in Saverne, Alsace, France, Bireli started playing guitar around the age of five and started improvising jazz similar to Django Reinhardt's style by the age of seven. He honed his craft in his early teenage years when he toured with several musical acts.

Those acts include some of the most talented musicians in the industry, such as:

  • Al Di Meola
  • Paco de Lucía
  • John McLaughlin
  • Benny Carter
  • Michel Legrand
  • Stéphane Grappelli
  • Larry Coryell
  • Jaco Pastorius
  • Stanley Clarke
  • The Gil Evans Orchestra

Bireli is now one of the more well-regarded guitarists in jazz, impressing audiences from around the globe with every strum of his six-string. He has released 26 albums and 7 live concert films, all of which have received praise from fans and critics alike.

Bireli Lagrene is a France-based musician known as the undisputed King of Django Reinhardt–influenced Gypsy jazz guitar. Since 1980, he has delighted new and long-time listeners of jazz with wonderful songs that capture the essence of the genre.

Full Biography

Awards

  • "Django d’Or" for "French Musician" (1993 and 2002)
  • "Les Victoires de la Musique" in the category of "Jazz Album" for the album Front Page (2001)
  • "Les Victoires de la Musique" nomination in the category of "Jazz Album" for the album Gypsy Project and Friends (2003)
  • "Django d’Or" for "French Musician" (2002)
  • "Django d’Or" for "Balkan/Gypsy" guitar (2007)
  • Medal of "Chevalier des Arts & des Lettres" of France as presented by Frédéric Mitterrand, Minister of Culture and Communication (2012) for significant contributions to the arts and literature