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Nguyên Lê Biography
"A deep-minded musician, filled with mystery, whose playing is never meaningless" (Télérama )
" Magician guitarist " (Jazz Mag, Guitare & Claviers)
Like a funambulist, Nguyên Lê skips from
rock burning intensity to Asian refinement,
from the meticulous search of new sounds
to the catching joy of improvisation.
Born in Paris from vietnamese parents, he began to play drums at the age of
15, then took up guitar & electric bass. After graduating in Visual Arts, he
majored in Philosophy, writing a thesis on Exoticism. Then he devoted to
music, creating "ULTRAMARINE" (1983), a multi-ethnic band whose CD " DÉ "
has been considered "1989' s best World Music album" Philippe Conrath,
Libération.
Nguyên LE is a self-taught musician, with a wide scope of interests : Rock &
Funk (Jim Cuomo, Madagascar tour 84), Jazz standards & contemporary Jazz
(bass player with Marc Ducret, guitar player with Eric Barret), Improvised
Music (Yves Robert), Singers (Ray Charles), Contemporary Music (André
Almuro, Tona Scherchen, Marius Constant, Mauricio Kagel), Ethnic Music :
African & Caribbean with ULTRAMARINE , Algerian with Safy Boutella & Cheb
Mami, Indian with Kakoli, Turkish with Kudsi Erguner, Vietnamese with his
"Dan Bau" (traditional one-stringed instrument) teacher Truong Tang.
In Sept. 87 he was chosen by director Antoine Hervé to play with the O. N.
J. (French National Jazz Orchestra). Within this big band, he played 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 LE' s work also
deals with programming synthetizers, effects & computers as well as writing
orchestral pieces : "PROCESSOR" composed, arranged & recorded on CD "O.N.J.
87" & "LUNIK II" co-arranged with Dominique Borker & performed by the O.N.J.
1989.
In Sept. 89 he records ULTRAMARINE's 2nd album "DÉ" and in May 90, his first
album as a leader : " MIRACLES " recorded in the U.S.A. with Art LANDE, Marc
JOHNSON & Peter ERSKINE. At the same time he works with such musicians as
Michel Portal, Miroslav Vitous, Trilok Gurtu, J. F. Jenny Clarke, Aldo
Romano, Daniel Humair, Dewey Redman, Andy Emler, Jon Christensen, Nana
Vasconcelos, Glenn Ferris, Christof Lauer, Paolo Fresu, Kenny Wheeler, John
Taylor ...
In May 92, after a month tour with Paul McCANDLESS on winds, Art Lande (p),
Dean Johnson (b) & Joël Allouche (d), he records his 2nd album ZANZIBAR,
which gets the « ffff » award by Télérama. In Jan. 93 he records "INIT", a
trio with André Ceccarelli, François Moutin & guest Bob Berg, while setting
up a new band on the music of Jimi Hendrix, w/ Corin Curschellas (voc),
Steve Argüelles (d), Richard Bona (b).
Since Jan. 93 he's been a frequent guest soloist of Köln's WDR Big band,
especially with composer/director Vince MENDOZA. Nguyên Lê plays on three of
his projects : "Jazzpaña", "Sketches" w/ Dave LIEBMAN, Charlie MARIANO,
Peter Erskine, & "Downtown", w/ Russell Ferrante. In April 94 he’s the guest
soloist of "The New Yorker", a suite by Bob BROOKMEYER, with Dieter Ilg (b)
& Danny Gottlieb (d). With these two musicians he set his first trio, &
recorded MILLION WAVES (ACT 9221-2) in Dec. 94 . About this CD, Télérama
writes : "This trio brings him to some musical spaces which he had not even
imagined, & which are pure poetry".
In the meantime, he's playing in trio with Michel Benita(b) & Peter Erskine,
recording on Michel Portal's new album with Ralph TOWNER (g), & working with
Ornette COLEMAN on one of his contemporary music pieces, "Freedom Statue".
In June 95 he's invited by WDR BigBand in "Azure Moon", with the
YELLOWJACKETS & Vince Mendoza. In July 95, in Stuttgart Festival, he's one
of the guest guitar players to celebrate the "Universe of Jimi Hendrix",
besides Trilok Gurtu, Terry BOZZIO, Cassandra WILSON, Jack BRUCE, Vernon
REID, David TORN, Victor BAILEY, Pharoah SANDERS... Recently he has been
playing with John McLaughlin, Michel Petrucciani, Markus Stockhausen, Enrico
Rava, Ray Anderson, Kenny Wheeler, John Taylor, Dave Douglas, Wolfgang
Puschnig...
In April 96, Nguyên Lê creates TALES FROM VIÊT-NAM (ACT 9225-2), a project
on Vietnamese music, with a 8-piece band blending jazz & traditional
musicians. With stage director P. J. San Bartolomé, he starts " Of the Moon
& the Wind ", a complete show where traditional & contemporary vietnamese
dancers are integrated to the "Tales from Viêt-Nam" orchestra. The CD has
received a great welcoming from international critics : Diapason d'Or, Choc
du Monde de la Musique, Choc of Year 1996 Jazzman, 2nd best CD 96 for
JAZZTHING (Germany), Best CD 96 on radio TRS 2 (CH), "a minor masterpiece"
JAZZTIMES (USA).
On 4/97 Nguyên Lê releases his 5th CD, 3 TRIOS (ACT 9245-2), with Marc
Johnson/ Peter Erskine, Dieter Ilg/ Danny Gottlieb & Renaud Garçia Fons/
Mino Cinelu. JAZZIZ Magazine USA says : « At times, jazz guitar can sound
staid - but not in the case of N. Lê. He’s forever breaking boundaries for
our benefit ». He has recorded 2 CDs with Paolo Fresu’s quartet : « Angel »
(2/98) & « Metamorfosi » (4/99). On 5/98, 6th N. Lê record : MAGHREB &
FRIENDS (ACT 9261-2). an exploration of Maghreb musical traditions & a deep
collaboration with Algerian musicians. « Far from a false world music, N. Lê
simply touches, with force & intensity, to universality » F. Medioni. N. Lê
produced the 1rst CD of Huong Thanh, Moon & Wind (ACT 9269-2), entirely done
in his home studio. He also has been nominated for the « Victoires de la
Musique 1999 » award. His last CD, BAKIDA (ACT 9275-2), based on his regular
trio with Renaud Garçia Fons (b) & Tino di Geraldo (perc, dr) plus guests
from all over the world like Kudsi Erguner, Chris Potter, Carlos Benavent...
This CD has been voted "best jazz album of the year" by "CD Compact"
(Spain). ELB, a new trio CD has just been recorded in Rainbow studios, Oslo,
with Peter Erskine & Michel Benita. He's touring with Terri Lyne
Carrington's band, with Geri Allen, Matt Garrison & Gary Thomas & plays with
Maria Schneider. Sept 2002 : 2nd CD of Huong Thanh Dragonfly (ACT 9293-2).
In June 2002 he's invited by the Metropole Orchestra (NL) to play his music
arranged by Vince Mendoza. PURPLE (ACT 9410-2), an album celebrating Jimi
Hendrix is released in sept 2002. In Sept. 2002 it's n° 1 on the charts of
UK magazine "Jazzwise". Mangustao (ACT 9423-2), Huong Thanh's 3rd album,
released in Jan. 2004, is awarded as "Choc de la Musique" by french magazine
"Le Monde de la Musique".
With his old friends Art Lande, Paul McCandless & Jamey Haddad he releases
in March 2005: “WALKING ON THE TIGER’S TAIL” (ACT 9432-2): “A universe where
the alliance between acoustic and electric, improvisation and writing, inner
delicacy and virtuosic expressivity reach the ideal balance.” (Le Monde)
For his latest album HOMESCAPE (ACT 9444-2) he has invited his friends, the
trumpet player Paolo Fresu and singer and oud-player Dhafer Youssef to his
homestudio. The duos express the multiple musical experiences and influences
of the artists and are mixed with electronic sounds created by Nguyên
himself.
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DISCOGRAPHY
Programme Jungle - Ultramarine, (1985) Bloomdido BL0001
DÊ - Ultramarine, (1989) Musidisc 500052
Esimala - Ultramarine, (1991) Musidisc 500242
Pierre Louis Garcia - (1988) KPP 26
Wait - I.L.L.O.U.Z., (1988) Flat & Sharp 192422
Make Up - Sylvin Marc, (1990) JMS 052-2
Eurasie - Bruno Heuze, (1993) K Vox KVR 1006
Khora - Thierry David, (1994) K Vox KVR 1009
Strong Love Affair - Ray Charles, (1996) Qwest
Chansongs - Claude Nougaro, (1993) Phonogram 5211172
O.N.J. 88/89 - Orchestre National de Jazz, (1987) Label Bleu LBL 6511
African Dream - Orchestra National de Jazz, (1989) Label Bleu LBL 6521
Megaoctet - Andy Emler, (1990) Label Bleu LBL 6533
Headgames - Andy Emler, (1992) Label Bleu LBL 6553
Mejnoun - Safy Boutella, (1991) Indigo LBLC 2501
Anyway - Michel Portal, (1993) Label Bleu LBLC 6544
Cinemas - Michel Portal, (1995) Label Bleu LBLC 6574
Init - Ceccarelli/N. Lê/Moutin, (1993) Polygram 518265-2
Sketches - Vince Mendoza, (1994) WDR/ACT 892152
Miracles - Nguyên Lê, (1989) Musidisc 500102
Zanzibar - Nguyên Lê, (1992) Musidisc 500352
Million Waves - Nguyên Lê, (1995) ACT 9221-1
Tales from Viet-Nam - Nguyên Lê, (1996) ACT 9225-2
3 Trios - Nguyên Lê. (1997) ACT 9245-2
Maghreb & Friends Nguyên LÊ (1998) ACT 9261-2
MOON AND WIND Huong Thanh & Nguyên Lê (1999) ACT
Nguyên Lê Trio - Bakida - (2000) ACT 9275-2 - LC 07644
actual projects
Nguyên Lê celebrating Jimi Hendrix
Nguyên Lê git; Cathy Renoir voc; Michel Alibo b; tba dr
Nguyen Lê Quartet
Nguyen Le git, Rita Marcotulli (p), Chris Jennings (ac.b) & Danny Gottlieb (dr)
Nguyen Le meets Dhafer Yousef
Nguyen Le meets Rita Marcotulli
Nguyen Lê & Saiyuki
Nguyen Le git; Prabhu Edourad tabla; Mieko Miyazaki koto
Huong Thanh & Nguyên Lê - "Dragonfly"
Huong Thanh , Trad. vocals ( Vietnam ), Nguyên Lê, Gtr, Arr. ( Vietnam
), Hao Nhien Trad. instr. Zither, Dan Bau, flutes, perc. ( Vietnam ),
François Verly perc, Synth. (France) Michel Alibo b, Joelle
Allouche dr/perc (France)
record company
ACT