Nguyên Lê (born 14 January 1959 in Paris) is a French guitarist and composer of Vietnamese descent whose music weaves jazz improvisation, rock energy and traditional Asian melodies into a singular voice. Self-taught, he started on drums before switching to guitar, and after studying fine art and philosophy devoted himself fully to music. Since the 1990s he has recorded for the ACT label - as its very first exclusive artist - working alongside Herbie Hancock, Paolo Fresu, Dhafer Youssef and Youn Sun Nah, among others. In 2011 he was awarded the Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts & des Lettres and the Django Reinhardt Prize from the Académie du Jazz.
Nguyên Lê released a live album "Jazz at Berlin Philharmonic XVII: Gnawa World Blues" (ACT) recorded in November 2024 at the Berlin Philharmonic together with Majid Bekkas and Hamid Drake.
Nguyên Lê performed at the Berlin Philharmonic at a concert in the Jazz at Berlin Philharmonic series, where together with Majid Bekkas and Hamid Drake he combined gnawa music, blues and jazz-rock.
The album "Silk and Sand" (ACT) was released, on which Nguyên Lê returned to the trio format with bassist Chris Jennings and Moroccan percussionist Rhani Kriyou.
Nguyên Lê was nominated for the ECHO Jazz 2015 award in the category of best international guitarist alongside Bill Frisell and Pat Metheny.
The French Minister of Culture awarded Nguyên Lê the title of Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts & des Lettres; in the same year he received the Django Reinhardt award from Académie du Jazz.
(4 days)
The eleventh edition of this international multi-genre music festival spans four days across 24 venues in central Brno. The programme includes jazz, world music, folk, rock and classical music, featuring Czech premieres and prominent domestic artists.
The opening concert of the Brno Music Marathon presents the Food project by pianist Omar Sosa and trumpeter Paolo Fresu with guest Nguyên Lê. Acoustic instruments blend with electronics in a musical dialogue about collaboration and sustainability.
Three distinct perspectives on contemporary jazz: Géraldine Cécile Schnyder with her Parley project, experimental Notepecker, and Nguyên Lê Streams Quartet at the Brno Music Marathon.
The closing concert of the Brno Music Marathon features the international Saiyuki Trio, blending Japanese, Indian, and Vietnamese traditions with jazz and improvisation.