Search - Nguyen Le :: Three Trios

Little-known, excellent guitar play teams with great cats

Douglas Groothuis | 06/10/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Le's work is hard to classify. It mixes jazz improvization and killer chops with some rock influences and oriental music. His electic guitar work sometimes reminds of me a mix between Pat Metheny and John McLaughlin, although he uses the tremelo arm to good effect (something Pat and John do not attempt). His ulta-tight, high-energy rendition of "Straight, no Chaser" (Monk) is worth the price of the disk, however, even though it is only three-and-a-half minutes long!I saw Le perform live in Denver recently with a group of mostly local musicians of high caliber. It was extraordinary performace and should have been taped for a live album."

Listen twice or more!

Douglas Groothuis | 05/27/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is an outstanding record! To find out how deep, sensitive and powerful Nguyen Le his guitar plays it's better to listen twice or more! Even Le gives this album what it is, his partners made a great job too. However, to make the whole thing perfect I would recommend to be a little bit in fusion. If so, you will not disappointed. For sure."