For Immediate Release November 19, 2019
Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz Presents Biréli Lagrène- Gypsy Jazz Trio on Wednesday, January 22, 2020 at 7:30PM
LOS ANGELES, CA – Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz (TRK), the innovative performance space at Le Lycée Français de Los Angeles, is pleased to present Bireli Lagrène on Wednesday, Jauary 22, 2020 at 7:30PM.
Lagrène’s acclaimed Gypsy Jazz Project ensemble features a trio format with saxophonist Frank Wolf and double bass player William Branard.
Music has always been the language of guitarist Biréli Lagrène. Following in the footsteps of legendary gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt, Lagrène hails from Alsace, France and plays with incredible precision, strength and virtuosity – he is considered to be one of the world’s premiere practitioners of gypsy jazz.
The 75-minute performance will take place at Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz, which is located at 10361 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90064 (310-286-0553). A no-host bar will be available. Tickets are $40 for adults and $25 for students. To learn more about this event and Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz, please visit www.trk.us.com. Tickets are available online at http://tinyurl.com/ofmdyxh.
Sponsors include TV5 Monde, KCRW, Alliance Française de Los Angeles and les Vins Louis LATOUR.
ABOUT BIRELI LAGRENE
Lagrène was born into a Romani family in Alsace, France. Both his father and grandfather had been prominent guitarists, and Lagrène was first introduced to the instrument around age four. Under his father's influence, Lagrène was soon absorbing the music of guitarist Django Reinhardt, as well as recordings by violinist Stéphane Grapelli and the Hot Club of France. By age seven, he was already a gifted performer and garnered increasing attention throughout the 1970s, especially after he won a prize at a festival in Strasbourg in 1978 and performed on television as part of an appearance at a Gypsy festival broadcast. In 1981, he made his solo debut with Routes to Django: Live. The studio-album Fifteen followed a year later, featuring more Reinhardt songs and jazz standards.
During his late teens, Lagrène's musical taste began to evolve as he started playing electric guitar and absorbing players like Wes Montgomery, John McLaughlin, Larry Coryell, and Jimi Hendrix. In 1984, he appeared at the Django Reinhardt Tribute at Fat Tuesdays in New York, where he showcased his stylistically expansive sound. He signed to Blue Note and issued a handful of genre-crossing albums: 1988's Inferno, 1989's Foreign Affairs, and 1990's Acoustic Moments.
With 1995's My Favorite Django, Lagrène returned to his love of traditional gypsy swing. Over the next decade, he made occasional forays into fusion, while continuing to balance his love of Django Reinhardt, straight-ahead jazz and bop influences. He also kept a steady live schedule, appearing live at Marciac in 1994 and at New York's Blue Note in 1997 with Larry Coryell and Billy Cobham.
He then paired with guitarist Hono Winterstein and bassist Diego Imbert for 2009's Gypsy Trio. In 2012, he recorded a straight-ahead jazz set for Universal entitled Mouvements with saxophonist Franck Wolf. Also in 2012, Lagrène was asked to participate in the 50th career anniversary celebration for violinist Jean-Luc Ponty, during which he appeared in a trio with Ponty and bassist Stanley Clarke. Inspired by their chemistry, the trio stayed in touch, and in 2015 paired again for the studio album D-Stringz on Impulse! In 2018, the guitarist issued Storyteller.
ABOUT THEATRE RAYMOND KABBAZ
Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz is a non-profit institution dedicated to the promotion of art and culture in the West Los Angeles area. This 220-seat theater welcomes multidisciplinary and multicultural shows. TRK’s mission is to be an open window on French and international cultures and to inspire and sustain a lifelong appreciation for the arts.
LINKS
• TRK Facebook Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/457255071815955/ • TRK on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheatreRaymondKabbaz/ • TRK Official Website: www.trk.us.com • TRK Website Page: https://www.theatreraymondkabbaz.com/upcoming-events- 1/2019/10/22/birli-lagrne
For more information, photos or to schedule an interview, please contact us by email at [email protected] or by phone at 310-286-0553