Nguyên Lê (Vietnamese name Lê Thành Nguyên) is a celebrated French jazz guitarist, composer, and producer of Vietnamese heritage, born on 14 January 1959 in Paris, France.
He began his musical journey playing drums at age 15, then moved to guitar and electric bass, largely as a self-taught musician. He studied Visual Arts and later Philosophy, writing a thesis on exoticism before fully dedicating himself to music.
Lê’s music blends jazz, fusion, rock energy, and global musical traditions, notably incorporating elements of Vietnamese traditional music and sounds from North Africa, India, and beyond. He's known for bridging cultural styles in adventurous, genre-bending jazz projects.
He’s worked with prominent artists like Randy Brecker, Vince Mendoza, Carla Bley, Michel Portal, Paolo Fresu, Dhafer Youssef, among others, and has released many albums both as a leader and in collaboration with other musicians.
Music
Miracles (1990) – debut as leader
Zanzibar (1992)
Million Waves (1995)
Tales from Vietnam (1996) – blends jazz with Vietnamese traditional sounds
Three Trios (1997)
Maghreb & Friends (1998)
Moon and Wind (1999)
2000s
Bakida (2000)
Purple – Celebrating Jimi Hendrix (2002)
Walking on the Tiger’s Tail (2005)
Homescape (2006) – duos with Paolo Fresu & Dhafer Youssef
Fragile Beauty (2007)
2010s
Saiyuki (2009)
Songs of Freedom (2011) – pop covers re-interpreted jazzily
(Note: His catalog likely continues beyond this list)