News

Nguyên Lê was born in Paris to Vietnamese parents,  his musical adventure started when he was 15. Drums for a start, then reached out for the guitar and electric bass. After graduating in Visual Arts, he obtained a degree in Philosophy, writing a thesis on exoticism,  then devoted himself to music entirely, founding the "ULTRAMARINE" band in 1983. The music ensemble combined different cultures. Philippe Conrath of the Libération chose the band's "DÉ" album as "the best World Music album of 1989".

The self-taught artist has transcended musical styles from the beginning, combining rock and funk (Jim Cuomo, Madagascar 84), jazz standards and avant-garde jazz (Marc Ducret, Yves Robert), pop (Ray Charles), contemporary music (André Almuro, Tona Scherchen, Marius Constant, Mauricio Kagel) and ethnic music such as African and Caribbean with ULTRAMARINE (1985), Algerian style with Safa Boutella and Chebem Mami, Indian with Kakoli, Turkish with Kudsi Erguner, and Vietnamese, which he explored from 1979, learning to play the "Dan Bau" (a one-stringed instrument).

In September 1987, director Antoine Hervé selected him to join the ONJ (National Jazz Orchestra of France). When in this orchestra, he had the opportunity to work with such musicians as Johnny Griffin, Louis Sclavis, Didier Lockwood, Carla Bley, Steve Swallow, Randy Brecker, Toots Thielemans, Courtney Pine, Steve Lacy, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Gil Evans, Quincy Jones.

Nguyên Lê also programs synthesisers, effects, and computers, and composes orchestral works. In 1989, he recorded the second ULTRAMARINE album "DÉ", and in May 1990 he released his first solo album "MIRACLES", recorded in the USA with Art Lande, Marc Johnson and Peter Erskine.

In May 1992, after a month-tour with Paul McCandless (brass), Art Lande (piano), Dean Johnson (bass) and Joël Allouche (drums), he recorded his second album - "ZANZIBAR", which received the "ffff" Télérama magazine award. In January 1993 he recorded "INIT", a trio album with André Ceccarelli, François Moutin and guest Bob Berg, while forming a new band dedicated to the music of Jimi Hendrix.

Since January 1993 he has performed regularly as a guest soloist with the WDR Big Band in Cologne, in projects by Vince Mendoza - a composer and director  . Nguyên Lê has starred in three of his projects:  "Jazzpaña", "Sketches" with Dave Liebman, Charlie Mariano, Peter Erskine and "Downtown" with Russell Ferrante. In April 1994 he was a guest soloist in Bob Brookmeyer's "The New Yorker" project, playing with Dieter Ilgie (bass) and Danny Gottlieb (drums). In December 1994 he recorded the album "MILLION WAVES". Télérama magazine reported: "This trio takes him into musical spaces he could not have imagined, and the spaces are pure poetry."

Nguyên Lê continued to collaborate with outstanding musicians such as Michel Benita, Peter Erskine, Ralph Towner and Ornette Coleman,  in June 1995 he was invited by Big Band WDR to participate in the "Azure Moon" project with YELLOWJACKETS and Vince Mendoza. In July 1995, at the Stuttgart Festival, he was one of the guest guitarists in the "Universe of Jimi Hendrix" tribute band, alongside Trilok Gurtu, Terry Bozzio, Cassandra Wilson, Jack Bruce, Vernon Reid, David Torn, Victor Bailey and Pharoah Sanders.

In 1996, Nguyên Lê created the "Tales from Viêt-Nam" project, which combined jazz with traditional Vietnamese music -  the project was very well received by international critics, winning numerous awards. The following years yielded further projects, albums and numerous collaborations with artists from around the world. This period solidified Nguyên Lê's position as one of the most important jazz guitarists of his generation.

In 2011 he was awarded the title of "Chevalier de l'ordre des Arts et des Lettres" by the French Minister of Culture and received the Django Reinhardt Award from the French Jazz Academy. His work has also been recognised at numerous festivals and prestigious music rankings.

Today, the guitarist continues his musical journey, constantly exploring new sounds and styles. His albums enjoy acclaim all over the world. 

In Kielce, Nguyên Lê will perform in concert on Sunday, 29 September at 6 p.m. The jazz festival at KCK features Nguyên Lê and also  Urszula Dudziak and Grzech Piotrowski, Kuba Więcek & Hoshi, Tantfreaky and Włodek Kiniorski with guests. The 22nd Targi Kielce Jazz Festival Memorial To Miles  from 26 to 29 September at the Kielce Culture Center.

Check:

• Tickets - the Nguyên Lê Trio concert and Włodek Kiniorski's benefit concert: bilety24.pl 
• Many-day tickets for the entire Memorial to Miles festival:  Tickets24.pl

/MŚ/