Search - Bireli Lagrene & Friends- Live Jazz A Vienne on DVD

One of the greatest jazz guitarists (and groups) in the worl

Benjamin J. Neiman | Phila., Pa. United States | 11/09/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This was a slam dunk for me as I am very familiar with Bireli's work. If you have not heard him, you are really missing out if you love great jazz guitar. On this amazing DVD, Bireli leads his group through a long program of fantastic gypsy jazz pieces mixing up well worn standards 'warhorses' alongside some great melodic lesser known pieces. Of course the requisite "Sweet Georgia Brown" and "Nuages" are there. Through it all, Bireli solos with fierce abandon and creativity, using blinding single note runs, octaves, even chord fragments, whatever his mood at the moment dictates. He is one of the few players that I don't hear any limitations in his playing. Of equal interest is violinist Florin Niculesciu (sorry, I know I butchered the name). He is the best improvising violinist I've heard since Mark O'Connor, and their styles are very similar. If you enjoy the gypsy jazz style, this is a no brainer. The show is 240 min. long, very generous to be sure, and some of the extras are cool. It is fun to see a very young (probably 10-12 years old at the time) Bireli play solo at Montreaux jazz fest, and people are almost falling out of their chairs, he is so good even then! Suffice it to say, Bireli Lagrene has become THE modern Django Rheinhardt, taking the brilliant style he developed and modernizing it (just a bit) to be the ultimate player in this style. Their are numerous virtuosos in this style:Jimmy Rosenberg, Angelo DeBarre, John Jorgenson,Gary Potter, but I still feel that Bireli is the top of the heap for this (and many other styles). Essential."

A Beautiful Concert

stranger2himself | Down Here | 08/18/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Having been a jazz fanatic for more than 30 years I describe this concert as 3 hours of the most joyous, beautiful, swinging, virtuosic music I've ever heard. Bireli Lagrene is not, by a long shot, the only phenomenal musician here, although he organized the program and invited the guests. You will also be blown away by Florin Niculescu who must scorch violins on a regular basis, incredibly swinging father and son Dorado and Samson Schmitt, the blazing Angelo Debarre, the totally original Sylvain Luc, Stochelo Rosenberg who must have been playing guitar before birth, and the ever-so-cool Serge Krief. These are just the highlights for me, everyone on the stage is a true master.
It's man versus guitar, and violin, and accordion, and the poor instruments are shown no mercy. Chunks of rosewood and spruce are flying everywhere. That funny smell you notice when you put this DVD on is the aroma of burning ebony and melting frets. If you're a guitar player, or maybe a fiddler, you'll have to pick your jaw up off of the floor."

Essential & Outstanding !!!

Gypsy Guitars | Kula, UpCountry Maui, Hawaii | 11/14/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"the art of manouche gypsy jazz has suffered too long from the lack of an excellent example of one of it's top acts made accessible thru DVD in America... now, American audiences can watch a grrreat gypsy jazz group, led by maestro Bireli Lagrene, showing the contemporary state of modern, post-Django Reinhardt, gypsy jazz master-fully played & well filmed in the state of the art medium of DVD... this DVD should help immensely increase the popularity of the beauty of this musical style with American music lovers !!! as it is broadcast thru BET jazz & Ovation & Bravo, etc,etc,etc,- audiences thoughout America can finally be exposed to the wonder-full beauty of this art-form & some of it's greatest players... Bireli Lagrene, Stochelo Rosenberg, Angelo Debarre & many other tremendous guitarists may now be enjoyed by more than only a cult following- Bravo Bireli !!! this DVD has my highest recommendation... check out the video clips of child prodigy Bireli at the end of this DVD- incredible dexterity & amazing feel- it reminds me of what it might have been like to watch Mozart as a child perform... Essential & Outstanding !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Gypsy Jazz at its finest

R. Haft | 09/12/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Highly recommended. The level of musicianship is outstanding. All players will amaze with their musicality and technique. The video quality is also excellent. If you are into jazz and improvisation you will enjoy watching this concert many times over."