Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Bireli Lagrene: Blue Eyes

151

Bireli Lagrene: Blue Eyes

By

Sign in to view read count
Bireli Lagrene: Blue Eyes
This straight-ahead jazz session from guitarist Bireli Lagrene, pianist Maurice Vander, bassist Chris Minh Doky, and drummer Andre Ceccarelli features songs identified with Frank Sinatra. It was recorded in June 1997 as a tribute to the singer who influenced each of the quartet's members as they were growing up and listening to music from all around the world. Audiences know Lagrene, a 31-year-old Frenchman who was born to a Gypsy family, as a mainstream guitarist in the Django Reinhardt tradition. On this session Lagrene sings four of the songs; his vocal quality and phrasing are remarkably similar to that of the late Frank Sinatra.

The individual tracks offer much opportunity to hear the individuals: Chris Minh Doky has an appreciable bass solo on "It's Alright With Me," drummer Ceccarelli trades fours on "A Foggy Day," pianist Vander stretches out on "Here's That Rainy Day," and of course Lagrene's guitar graces each song. The highlight is a version of "Come Fly With Me" that runs more than seven minutes and fits in solo work from each artist. Highly Recommended.

Track Listing

A Foggy Day; Witchcraft; The Lady is a Tramp; I've Got a Crush on You; My Kind of Town; I've Got You Under my Skin; It's Alright With Me; You Make Me Feel So Young; Come Fly With Me; Here's That Rainy Day; Luck Be a Lady; April in Paris; Autumn in New York.

Personnel

Album information

Title: Blue Eyes | Year Released: 1998 | Record Label: Dreyfus Records

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Fiesta at Caroga
Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective
Fellowship
David Gibson
Immense Blue
Olie Brice / Rachel Musson / Mark Sanders

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.