Nguyên Lê’s Saiyuki | France/Japan/India

Nguyên Lê | Guitar

Mieko Miyazaki | Koto, Shamisen, Vocals

Prabhu Edouard | Tablas, Percussion

The Japanese title means "Journey to the West", which in this case indicates a journey. The resulting music changes its cultural centre of gravity; sometimes it's north India, sometimes it links Japan and San Francisco. A truly egalitarian grouping, their music is co-composed by all three players who dip into the wellsprings of their individual cultures to create a repertoire that's transcendent in its beauty and cultural cross-pollination, supporting the old adage of music as the international language.

For over twenty years, Nguyên Lê has collaborated with a growing cadre of like-minded musicians—mostly Paris-based, where the guitarist of Vietnamese origins resides—building a body of work that is, in the truest sense of the word, "world music." Lê has carved out a unique space—often fusion-like in its electricity and energy, but avoiding the negative connotations; undeniably jazz-centric, too, but largely avoiding overt references to traditionalism.

“Nguyên Lê is a masterful, inventive player who has cultivated a wholly unique voice on the intsrument, he ranks right up there with Frisell, John Scofield, Mike Stern & Allan Holdsworth in the post-Hendrix world of jazz guitar. «  -- Bill Milkowski, Jazz Times

”With his distinctive approach to exploring and integrating music from around the globe, Lê continues to impress with his fine playing, astute collaborative choices and personal vision.” --John Kelman, All About Jazz

Website: http://www.nguyen-le.com/Site_Nu/Bonjour.html