In the tradition of Django Reinhardt, Biréli Lagrène is one of most highly regarded Gypsy jazz, bebop, and fusion guitarists of recent decades. Once regarded as a child prodigy, he has performed with such legendary players as Benny Goodman, Stéphan Grappelli, Al Di Meola, Paco de Lucía, John McLaughlin and countless others. Given that roster, one might assume that Lagrène is quite advanced in years, but this is not the case; the fact is, he was drawn to the guitar as a child of four, and after auditioning at the intermission, was invited onstage with Grapelli for the second half- when he was only ten years old.

While Lagrène is primarily an ear player, he has collaborated with TAGA Publishing to produce an exceptional book filled with insightful tips on playing the Gypsy jazz style. Biréli Lagrène: Gypsy Jazz Guitar Artistry introduces the intermediate jazz guitarist to the essential rhythms used in Gypsy jazz accompaniment, as well as to the vocabulary needed to improvise in the Gypsy jazz style.

Not for the faint of heart, the book includes online audio recordings of 33 rhythm exercises and licks to incorporate the right feel or panache in your own Gypsy jazz performance style. The musical examples are written in either chord symbols or standard notation and tablature. Includes access to online audio.

Preface

Interview with Biréli Lagrène

Brief History of Django Reinhardt

Django Reinhardt-Style Rhythm Examples

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3

Example 4

Example 5

Example 6

Example 7

Example 8

Django Reinhardt-Style Lines

Example 9

Example 10

Example 11

Example 12

Example 13

Example 14

Example 15

Example 16

Example 17

Licks Based on Finger Patterns

Example 18

Example 19

Example 20

Neighbor-Note Licks

Example 21

Example 22

Example 23

Diminished Arpeggio Licks

Example 24

Example 25

Example 26

Example 27

Other Arpeggio Licks

Example 28

Example 29

Example 30

Example 31a

Example 31b

Example 31c

Example 31d

Example 32

Example 33