IGF Guitar Summit is back at Kings Place for three days of concerts, workshops, lectures and masterclasses with the world’s greatest guitarists.

Biréli Lagrène is a French guitarist of worldwide fame and considered a major player of Gypsy Jazz. He also has drawn much praise for his fertile blend of swinging continental jazz, post-bop, fusion and rock.

Once regarded as a child prodigy, he has collaborated with such legendary players as Stéphan Grappelli, Ginger Baker, Al di Meola, Paco de Lucía, John McLaughlin and countless others. Given that roster of top collaborators one might mistakenly 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 Grappelli for the second half – when he was only ten years old. When his Routes to Django: Live was issued in 1980, the 13-year-old jazz guitarist was immediately praised by critics as a protégé of Django Reinhardt. He had already won a prize in a festival at Strasbourg in 1978, and his appearance at a Gypsy festival was broadcast on television. He soon broadened his approach, exploring a wide variety of jazz from Wes Montgomery to Jimi Hendrix and got recording with some of modern jazz’s biggest names.

Renowned for his virtuosic performances and jazz improvisational skills, Biréli has produced numerous albums and toured the world, collaborating with exceptional musicians such as Jaco Pastorius, Jean Luc Ponty, Lenny White, Victor Bailey, Philip Catherine, Didier Lockwood, Larry Coryell and many others. He even replaced Eric Clapton during the temporary reformation of the legendary band Cream. Throughout the years, he has never ceased to impress the world with his unequalled virtuosity and astonishing rhythmic accuracy.

This is Biréli’s only performance in the UK, a unique opportunity you cannot miss!

“One of the most remarkable guitar players on the planet.” – London Jazz News 

This concert will last approximately 1 hour, including an interval.

Biréli will give a very rare masterclass on Sunday 23 July, assisted by John Wheatcroft. For info and booking click here.