Biréli Lagrène and The WDR Big Band

A celebrated French guitarist, Biréli Lagrène has drawn praise for his fertile blend of swinging jazz, post-bop, and fusion. Emerging with Routes to Django: Live in 1980, the then 13-year-old guitarist was quickly praised as an heir to the legendary Belgian-born Romani guitarist Django Reinhardt. Over time, however, he broadened his approach, exploring artists like Wes Montgomery, Larry Coryell, and Jimi Hendrix, influences he displayed on 1988's Inferno and 2008's Electric Side. Nonetheless, as evidenced by 1992's Standards, 2018's Storyteller, and 2024's Biréli Lagrène Plays...