An espresso with…
Nguyên Lê
Image Credits: Nguyên Lê © Leonardo Schiavone
February 26, 2018
The French-Vietnamese guitar player Nguyên Lê is today one of the most recognizable musicians in the world musical scene. With Hà Nôi Duo (Act, 2017), he has musically joined eastern and western cultures in a very personal sound.
> Ivano Rossato
How did your project Hà Nôi Duo arise?
The project came out of the encounter with the Vietnamese musician Ngô Hồng Quang, who is the embodiment of nowadays’ Vietnam. To me, artists like him represent the new expression of the tradition: they safeguard their own roots but, at the same time, they are young, they learn fast, and they also know western culture. Thanks to this mix, they’re open to create new music but, at the same time, they are deeply rooted in tradition.
Your career is very rich of very differentiated collaborations; how do you select the musicians for your projects?
To me, friendship is the most important element in a musical relationship. I could never play with somebody I’m not comfortable with, even if he is an excellent musician. Then, I need to play with somebody who has something different to say, intense, and true to himself, to the persons he is playing with and to the people listening to him.
When listening to your compositions, it is very clear that you have a mix of different cultures: how did you build this very personal style?
It is something that was an obsession for me since the first album: to find a unique and a true style. To do this, I think you have to start from your roots that, as far as I’m concerned, are obviously in Vietnam, but not only. For example, at the beginning of my career I played a lot of the Deep Purple or Jimi Hendrix music, of whom I particularly loved the electric energy. And this is what I tried to carry in the music I play today. For my all life I have been learning so much from so many good musicians, and I wish all of this has created my own personal musical language.
In some of your records you reinterpreted the music written by other artists; how do you approach this work of reinterpretation of such very famous works?
Everything starts from the wish of expressing my love and my respect for that music. And I ask myself: “What do you want to do with this track, to create something sincere and unique?” Of course, I start from a deep study of that music but, from a certain point on, I need to disclose from the original and I have to express my voice by creating something new.
On which project are you now working?
The next project will be focused on Vietnam again, particularly on the concept on migration, that nowadays really concerns all the world. It will not only be about music, but it will be a show staging a quintet playing traditional and modern instruments, supported by circus performers and hip-hop dancers.
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Jazzespresso es una revista de jazz y también un sitio web, una red, un centro que desea conectar las diferentes almas del mundo del jazz: americano, europeo, asiático, australiano y africano. Un punto de referencia multicultural en lengua inglesa, china y en castellano para los amantes de esta música en todos los países que quieren estar al tanto de lo que está ocurriendo en todo el mundo. Manténganse informados!
Jazzespresso is a jazz magazine, but also a website, a network, a hub wishing to connect the different souls of the jazz world: American, European, Asian, Australian and African. A multicultural reference point in English, Chinese and Spanish language for the lovers of this music in every Country, who want to be updated about what is happening all around the world… Stay tuned.
Jazzespresso 不只是一個爵士樂雜誌,也是一個能將擁有各種不同精髓的世界爵士樂,包括美洲、歐洲、亞洲、澳洲及非洲各地,互相連結起來的網站及交流站。以中文及英文寫成的內容將是一個新的多元文化交流的參考點,為各地的爵士音樂愛好者提供來自全世界最新的消息。請持續關注!
JazzEspresso 不只是一个爵士乐杂誌,也是一个能将拥有各种不同精髓的世界爵士乐,包括美洲、欧洲、亚洲、澳洲及非洲各地,互相连结起来的网站及交流站。以中文及英文写成的内容将是一个新的多元文化交流的参考点,为各地的爵士音乐爱好者提供来自全世界最新的消息。请持续关注!
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ABOUT US / 關於我們 / 关于我们 / NOSOTROS
Jazzespresso es una revista de jazz y también un sitio web, una red, un centro que desea conectar las diferentes almas del mundo del jazz: americano, europeo, asiático, australiano y africano. Un punto de referencia multicultural en lengua inglesa, china y en castellano para los amantes de esta música en todos los países que quieren estar al tanto de lo que está ocurriendo en todo el mundo. Manténganse informados!
Jazzespresso is a jazz magazine, but also a website, a network, a hub wishing to connect the different souls of the jazz world: American, European, Asian, Australian and African. A multicultural reference point in English, Chinese and Spanish language for the lovers of this music in every Country, who want to be updated about what is happening all around the world… Stay tuned.
Jazzespresso 不只是一個爵士樂雜誌,也是一個能將擁有各種不同精髓的世界爵士樂,包括美洲、歐洲、亞洲、澳洲及非洲各地,互相連結起來的網站及交流站。以中文及英文寫成的內容將是一個新的多元文化交流的參考點,為各地的爵士音樂愛好者提供來自全世界最新的消息。請持續關注!
JazzEspresso 不只是一个爵士乐杂誌,也是一个能将拥有各种不同精髓的世界爵士乐,包括美洲、欧洲、亚洲、澳洲及非洲各地,互相连结起来的网站及交流站。以中文及英文写成的内容将是一个新的多元文化交流的参考点,为各地的爵士音乐爱好者提供来自全世界最新的消息。请持续关注!
Info: info@jazzespresso.com; Advertising / 廣告 / 广告 / Publicidad: adv@jazzespresso.com.