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Vangthanousone Bouaphanh

Vangthanousone Bouaphanh was born in Vientiane, the capital city of Laos. He only took up the guitar aged 21, after hearing some recorded jazz in a friend's bar. Initially attracted to bossa nova, especially Antonio Carlos Jobim, Vangthanousone soon became fascinated by straight ahead jazz, and began to study and play the music of saxophonists John Coltrane and Charlie Parker.

As a guitarist, his main influence is Pat Martino, though he is also inspired by Wes Montgomery and George Benson, and is familiar with the music of Bill Frisell and John Scofieldamongst others.

Vangthanousone's only source of jazz was via the internet, and it was through Face Book that he came across Bangkok-based, American guitarist Ron Cole. Cole became a teacher, mentor and adviser for Vangthanousone, teaching the young Lao guitarist to develop the language of improvisation.

Jazz is a passion for Vangthanousone, and in addition to practicing three hours a day on his guitar, he also checks out jazz videos on You Tube for an hour each day.

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Interview

Vangthanousone Bouaphanh: Lao Jazznova

Read "Vangthanousone Bouaphanh: Lao Jazznova" reviewed by Ian Patterson


Cradling his Epiphone Emperor Regent as he stands against the backdrop of a Buddhist temple, guitarist Vangthanousone Bouaphanh cuts a dashing figure. Vangthanousone comes from the “Land of a Million Elephants," better known these days as Laos--a small, Buddhist/animist country sandwiched between Vietnam, China, Burma, Thailand and Cambodia. Vangthanousone may look like a star, but he's not at all famous. His country is not really famous, either, other than for being the single- most-bombed country in the history of warfare. ...

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"As a jazz guitarist he's clearly the genuine article, with a non-flashy, soulful approach to his instrument." All About Jazz

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