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"Elegant People" Album Release Concert feat.Jean-Yves Jung - piano
William Brunnard - bass
Raphaël Pannier - drums
Imagine stepping into a smoky, velvet-lit Paris jazz club in January 2026, where Biréli Lagrène, now in his late fifties and at the absolute peak of his powers, takes the stage with his new quartet for the Elegant People album release concerts.
From the first notes of the fiery title track — a bold, re-imagined Weather Report classic — the band explodes with controlled energy. Biréli’s semi-acoustic guitar sings with crystalline clarity, no longer relying on youthful pyrotechnics but speaking with profound maturity and breathtaking phrasing that leaves the room breathless. The rhythm section of William Brunard on bass and Raphaël Pannier on drums locks in with telepathic swing, while pianist Jean-Yves Jung paints luminous, lyrical colors across every tune.
The night flows like a perfect setlist dream: blistering up-tempo burners like “Flair” and “Kings Cross” give way to heart-melting tenderness on “My Foolish Heart” and “A Time for Love,” where Biréli’s touch is so delicate you can hear the wood of the guitar breathe. The Brazilian-tinged “Anjo de Mim” wraps the audience in mysterious, Metheny-esque moonlight, and then “New Blues” hits like aged whiskey — raw, earthy, and utterly commanding.
Every solo feels inevitable yet completely spontaneous, as if the music is pouring through Biréli rather than from him. The quartet plays as one living organism, intimate and powerful, honoring Wes, Joe Pass, and Django while sounding completely contemporary.
This is not a nostalgia show. This is Biréli Lagrène, wiser, deeper, and more free than ever, delivering one of those rare evenings where time stops and everyone in the room knows they’re witnessing a master at the very height of his art.
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Event Venue
Nice Jazz Fest, Nice, France
Tickets
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