NGUYÊN LÊ
Guitars & Bass, Guitar Synthesizer, Programming,
Composition & Arrangements
Few musicians embody the word "fusion" more than Parisian-born
guitarist Nguyên Lê. For the past 25 years he's been mining a combination of
fusion by the more conventional definition —the infusion of rock energy into the
jazz sphere—with fusion in a broader sense, the seamless integration of music
from cultures around the world. - All About Jazz
Nguyên Lê is a masterful, inventive player who has cultivated a wholly
unique voice on the intsrument, he ranks right up there with Frisell, John
Scofield, Mike Stern & Allan Holdsworth in the post Hendrix world of jazz guitar Jazztimes
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 September 1987, 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 September 1989, he recorded ULTRAMARINE's 2nd album "DÉ" &, in May
1990, his first album as a leader : " MIRACLES " was recorded in the U.S.A.
with Art LANDE, Marc JOHNSON & Peter ERSKINE. He works with musicians
such 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 1992, after a month touring with Paul McCANDLESS on winds, Art
Lande (p), Dean Johnson (b) & Joël Allouche (d), he recorded his 2nd album
ZANZIBAR, which received the « ffff » award by Télérama. In January 1993, he
recorded "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 January 1993 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" 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 a trio with Michel Benita(b) & Peter Erskine,
recording on Michel Portal's new album with Ralph TOWNER (g), and working
with Ornette COLEMAN on one of his contemporary music pieces, "Freedom
Statue". In June1995 he was invited by WDR BigBand in "Azure Moon", with the
YELLOWJACKETS & Vince Mendoza. In July 1995, in Stuttgart Festival, he was
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 Petrucianni, Markus Stockhausen, Enrico
Rava, Ray Anderson, Kenny Wheeler, John Taylor, Dave Douglas, Wolfgang
Pushnig, Uri Caine.
In April 1996, Nguyên Lê created "Tales from Viêt-Nam", a project on
Vietnamese music, with a 8-piece band blending jazz & traditional musicians.
With stage director P. J. San Bartolomé, he started " De la Lune et du Vent ", a
complete show where traditional & contemporary vietnamese dancers were
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).
In April 1997, Nguyên Lê released his 5th CD, " 3 Trios", 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 » (February 1998) & «
Metamorfosi » (April 1999). On May 6, 1998 Nguyen Lê recorded « Maghreb &
Friends », 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 », entirely done in his home studio. He also has
been nominated for the « Victoires de la Musique 1999 » award. His last CD, «
BAKIDA », 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. In September 2002 : 2nd CD of Huong Thanh «
Dragonfly ». In June 2002 he was invited by the Metropole Orchestra (NL) to
play his music arranged by Vince Mendoza. « Purple », an album celebrating
Jimi Hendrix was released in September 2002, at which time it became No. 1 on
the charts of a UK magazine called "Jazzwise". To date it is Nguyen Lê's most
successful album, with 20,500 CD sales. He is touring continually all over the
world.
"Mangustao", Huong Thanh's 3rd album, was released in January 2004, was
awarded "Choc de la Musique" by french magazine "Le Monde de la Musique". In
March 2005 release of "Walking on the Tiger's Tail", new album with his great
friends Art Lande, Paul McCandless & Jamey Haddad “A universe where the
alliance between acoustic and electric, improvisation and writing, inner delicacy
and virtuosic expressivity reach the ideal balance.”(LeMonde).
Several projects were built in 2006 : the score writing of "Le Sheitan", a movie by
Kim Chapiron with Vincent Cassel, & « Homescape », a very electronic,
improvised & mystical recording in duo with Paolo Fresu & Dhafer Youssef, all
done at home, #1 in « Jazzwise » April 2006 charts; the score for the vietnamese
movie "Saigon Eclipse" by Othello Khanh; the recording of "Mozart" last Uri
Caine's album; a 13-gig tour in USA with "Tiger's Tail" quartet, thanks to a
CMA/FACE grant; two "classical" compositions commissionned by the Ahn Trio &
the Laguna Beach Fest in LA. Nguyên Lê was unanimously awarded as the
guitar "Django d'Or" 2006.
In 2007, after tours in US & China, he released "Fragile Beauty", the 4th album
with Huong Thanh «Simply an album that captures the heart from the first note
and leaves it hungering for more as the last one fades» (All That Jazz). In 2008
he records "The Othello Syndrome" for Uri Caine, "Blauklang" for Vince
Mendoza's & also « Dream Flight » a new ELB album, with guest Stéphane
Guillaume on sax. A new album came out in October 2009: SAIYUKI, an asian
trio with Mieko Miyazaki (koto) & Prabhu Edouard (tablas) & special guest
Hariprasad Chaurasia (flute). He’s the mixing engineer & co-producer of
Dhafer’s Youssef «Abu Nawas Rhapsody», Céline Bonacina’s «Way of Life» &
Mario Canonge «Mitan». «Signature Edition», a double-CD album showing 20
years of music creation has been released by ACT in march 2010. AllAboutJazz
will say: «the ample evidence of an artist whose voice has been his own from the
very beginning». He’s guest soloist on Erkki Sven Tüür’s 5th symphony with
Bremen Philarmonic. For the 2nd time Nguyên Lê is the recipient of the
CMA/FACE grant which helps the «Saiyuki inviting Rudresh Mahanthappa»
project to tour in US in the fall of 2010.
The new album «Songs of Freedom», was released in April 2011, is an exotic &
eccentric reading of Pop hits from the 70’s with Illya Amar, Linley Marthe, St.
Galland & guests Youn Sun Nah, David Linx, Dhafer Youssef, Ousman Danedjo
a.o. It has received a fantastic welcoming from international press & is on top
jazz charts of Itunes & Amazon.
Van-Anh Vanessa Vo:
dan Tranh, dan Bau, dan T’rung, percussion, vocal, dan Da (stone
Xylophone)
Van-Anh Vanessa Vo dedicates her life to creating music on the dan Tranh (16string zither) and fusing her traditional Vietnamese foundation with a freshness of
new structures and compositions. Since settled in California, she has been a
collaborator and solo artist with such musicians and groups as Kronos Quatet,
SOMEI Taiko Ensemble, Wobbly World , Nguyen Le, Paul McCandless, Ali
Ryerson, Charles Loos, as well as lending her talents to fundraising events for
several non-profit organizations. Continually cultivates the beauty and versatility
of the dan Tranh to feature her beloved instrument in an international music
genre, Van-Anh has been co-composer and arranger for the Oscar® nomimated
and Sundance Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary, Daughter from Danang
(2002), the Emmy® Award-winning film and soundtrack for Bolinao 52 (2008),
and the multiple award-winning film A Village Called Versailles (2009). Recently,
Van-Anh released her newest CD “She’s Not She” with award-winning composer
Do Bao.
Van-Anh began studying dan tranh from the age of four, and graduated with
distinction from and taught at the Vietnam Academy of Music. In 1995, Van-Anh
won championship in the Vietnam National Dan Tranh Competition along with the
first prize for best solo performance of modern folk music. She has since
performed in more than fourteen countries and recorded in many broadcast
programs inside and outside of Vietnam. Her first CD “Twelve Months, Four
Seasons” was released in 2002.
In addition to dan tranh, Van-Anh also performs as soloist on the monochord
(bau), the 36-string hammered dulcimer (dan tam thap luc), the bamboo
xylophone (dan t’rung), the k’longput, traditional drums (trong), and Chinese
guzheng. She lives and teaches dan tranh and other Vietnamese traditional
instruments in Fremont, California. For further information regarding dan tranh,
traditional Vietnamese traditional music, or future CDs, please visit website:
www.vananhvo.com or email: dantranhviet@vananhvo.com.
Jimi Nakagawa: taiko
Jimi started playing drums when he was in high school and performed with local
bands in Japan and San Francisco.
In 1987, Jimi joined the San Francisco Taiko Dojo, directed by Grand Master
Seiichi Tanaka and became a performing member and instructor to adults and
children. In 1997, he returned to Japan to continue his study of taiko and to
perform with Sukeroku Daiko Hozonkai and master Kenjiro Maru of the
Wakayama style festival music. In 2009 and 2010, he was granted by NPO
Infusion to study "tuzumi, " a Japanse hand drum, with a Master Saburo
Mochizuki in Tokyo. In addition to studying Japanese traditonal music, he has
also studied jazz with celebrated drummer Robert Kaufman, a former professor
at the Berkley College of Music.
In 1999, he and three other members founded a San Francisco Bay Area based
taiko group, Somei Yoshino Taiko Ensemble and started his taiko school in
Oakland.
Jimi has collaborated with Robert Moses and Robert Moses Kin, Dr. Anthony
Brown and the Asian American Orchestra, Steven Kent/Ancient Future with
renowned musician Habib Kahn and jazz/fusion guiterlist, Nugen Le. Currently,
Jimi is performing in Somei Yoshino Taiko Ensamble, as well as Essence, which
is led by a Shakuhachi player, Masayuki Koga. Jimi's refined but driving
stickwork has been featured in film, video and on stage.
Aaron Germain: electric bass and up-right bass
Aaron Germain has carved out a solid career as one of the busiest bassists on
the jazz scene. His debut CD, "Before You Go," shows off not only his sublime
proficiency on stand-up and electric bass, but also his dazzling compositional
skills. - David Wiegand, San Francisco Chronicle
Aaron grew up in Massachusetts, but has lived in the San Francisco bay area
since 2000. Playing both upright and electric basses, he is adept at diverse
genres of music. Aaron can be seem playing, straight-ahead jazz, cabaret,
modern jazz, r&b, funk, salsa, brazilian, west african, indian, odd-meter, country,
pop, ect. His philosophy has always been, to be picky about quality, but not
genre. He is also a composer, and his debut album, "Before You Go" can be
found on his website www.aarongermain.com.
Over the years, Aaron has performed with artists such as:
Yusef Lateef
Stanley Jordon
Andy Narell
Bonnie Raitt
Michael Wolff
Nguyen Le
Paul McCandless
Francisco Aquabella
Melba Moore
Mary Wilson
Barry Finnerty
Paula West
Jacqui Naylor
Dwight Trible
Eddie Marshal
Dave Ellis
Babatunde Lea
Gordon Stone
Kenny Washington
Josh Jones
Akira Tana
Jamie Davis
He has performed at venues such as: the Blue Note (NY), Scullers (Boston), The
House of Blues (Boston), The Blues Alley (Washington DC), Zanzibar Blue
(Philadelphia), Yoshis (SF), Yoshis (Oakland), The Jazz School (Berkeley),
Humphrey's by the Bay (San Diego), The Fillmore (SF), Dakotas (Minneapolis),
The Iron Horse (Northampton), Herbst Theatre (SF), Kuumbwa (Santa Cruz), Le
Club Jazz (Kyoto), Cafe Yorozuya (Kobe), Z Imagine (Tokyo), Donfan (Tokyo),
MEG (Tokyo), Bar T.T. Funk (Tokyo), The San Francisco Jazz Festival, The
North Beach Jazz Festival, The Fillmore Jazz Festival, The San Jose Jazz
Festival, and the Drumming in the New Millenium Festival in front of the Great
Pyramids of Egypt (December 1999)