Biréli Lagrène, Martin Taylor & Ulf Wakenius
Thomas Dutronc

The history of the guitar is punctuated of collaborations and even rivalries which sometimes became legends with albums and concerts. If the existence of “supergroups”, ensembles composed of a few stars for a tour, a studio session or even a special show, seems to be part of the past, the six-string universe still allows the artists to dream of original collaborations, which are likely to make history in turn. The Great Guitars is a good example. Bringing back to life the band comprising three jazz guitar gods of the 70s, Herb Ellis, Barney Kessel and Charlie Byrd, the English musician Martin Taylor, who replaced Herb Ellis in the original trio, offered two of his most celebrated fellows to rebuild this distinctive project. This time, the dream team is composed of the Swedish guitarist Ulf Wakenius whose flow and mastery of the whole jazz history established him as an undeniable reference of the instrument, and Biréli Lagrène gifted with a tremendous inspiration and an innate musicality close to the supernatural, which are admired by his peers. Just as in the original band, the magic is not correlated to a competitive spirit, but to their ability to express a multitude of dynamics and to the guitar’s hypersensitivity which is envied by so many other instrumentalists.

Line-up:

• Biréli Lagrène (g)
• Martin Taylor (g)
• Ulf Wakenius (g)

The singer Thomas Dutronc is of course talented and charming, but he can also be seductive, wistful or mischievous. Successful from the very beginning in 2007 (he was awarded a gold record for his first album two months after its release), this family calling should not obscure the fact that he started in the industry as a jazz guitarist, trying his hand with the gypsy pompe in clubs and small venues.
When he was young, he learnt to play the swing guitar with humility, with his elders, respecting the tzigane cultural tradition. Romane was the first to work with him, then Biréli Lagrène collaborated with him on his “Gipsy Project”. He also conquered the public with his guitar, which made the “Les triplettes de Belleville” animated film swing with his childhood friend -M-. Alongside his personal journey, the guitarist has never forgotten Django Reinhardt’s music, whose joyful energy he used in his songs. He will be performing with his most brilliant representatives and friends on the Théâtre Antique’s stage: the reserved virtuoso Rocky Gresset and the elegant Stochelo Rosenberg who, for once, will drop his usual trio to be part of another family. Three guitars and one voice will revisit timeless Jacques Dutronc’s songs that his son sang on his album Frenchy, but also the greatest compositions of the gipsy repertoire...

Line-up :

• Thomas Dutronc (g,voc)
• David Chiron (cb)
• Aurore Voilqué (vln)
• Jérôme Ciosi (g)
• Rocky Gresset (g)
• Julien Herné (b)
• Éric Legnini (p)
• Maxime Zampieri (dms)