Today French-born guitarist/composer Stephane Wrembel releases his brand new studio album, Origins. He’ll also launch his spring/summer tour this week, with CD release shows at Joe’s Pub in New York City on Thursday, May 17 and at Brooklyn’s Barbes on Sunday, May 20.Already Origins is being hailed for eloquently demonstrating Wrembel’s singular sound and his unique ability to wrap “sumptuous string arrangements around folk, rock and jazz concepts that reveal masterful skill.” (StreetDate) For his recent visit to WNYC’s “Soundcheck” Studios with John Schaeffer, Wrembel and his band performed songs from Origins. Click here for live video and audio from the WNYC session.He’s been called “a revelation” by Rolling Stone. Woody Allen recruited him to score the theme for last year’s smash film Midnight in Paris, and he performed his original song “Bistro Fada” live at this year’s Academy Awards ceremony. Wrembel’s playing is “blinding fast and relentlessly graceful” (The Daily Gazette) and his compositions are full of “soulful lyricism and melodic flair” (Washington Post).To say that Wrembel—who learned his craft among the Gypsies at campsites in the French countryside of Fontainebleau—has already had a remarkable career would be an understatement. But this virtuoso, who is now Brooklyn-based, has truly just begun to make his mark as one of the most original guitar voices in contemporary music.Presciently titled, Origins, which Wrembel recorded with his band—bassist Dave Speranza, rhythm guitarist Roy Williams, drummer Nick Anderson and percussionist David Langlois—finds the multi-faceted musician corralling all of his myriad influences into a hybrid that simultaneously reflects where he’s been and points to where he’s headed. Although he built his reputation as a stylist in the mode of the iconic French Sinti guitarist Django Reinhardt, Wrembel now revels in transcending and expanding. “I’m digging deeper and deeper into my roots,” he says about the album.Although Wrembel certainly loves paying homage to his roots—hence the title Origins—and was happy to oblige when Allen’s producer requested “a work that would remind of the magic of Paris” for the Oscar-nominated Midnight in Paris, he is in no way bound to his own past. Origins touches upon everything from blues to flamenco to rock; all of these influences come together as something identifiable only as Stephane Wrembel.“I just play my own music,” he says. “I like to believe that it is beyond any one genre and that there is something in it for everyone. It’s not only for the rock music lover, or for the Django lover; it’s not only for the jazz lover, or for just young people or old people. It’s for the music lover.” Indeed, Origins is the most sophisticated representation to date of Wrembel’s superior compositional skills. Fleshed out by the superb musicians in his band, Wrembel’s melodies burst with panoply of textures and colors, moods and emotions.“It’s a different state of mind altogether,” adds Wrembel, talking about Origins. “I always compose with a picture in mind. That Impressionism approach is the main thing that I’ve carried with me from Fontainebleau.” Upcoming tour dates for Stephane Wrembel include:Thursday, May 17 Joe's Pub @ The Public Theater New York NY CD Release PartySunday, May 20 Barbes Brooklyn NYFriday, May 25 Carriage House Ithaca NYSaturday, May 26 Boulder Coffee Co Rochester NYSunday, May 27 Duke's Bohemian Grove Bar Buffalo NYWednesday, May 30 The Ark Ann Arbor MIFriday, June 1 Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts Maplewood NJThursday, June 21 - Saturday, June 23 Wanderlust Festival Bondville VTWednesday, June 27 Strathmore Symphony Hall North Bethesda MDThursday, July 5 - Saturday, July 7 Wanderlust Festival Colorado Copper Mountain COFriday, July 13 Outpost Performance Space Southeast Albuquerque NMSaturday, July 14 Music Instrument Museum Phoenix AZSunday, July 15 Club Congress Tucson AZWednesday, July 18 The Coffee Gallery Backstage Atlanta CASaturday, July 21 Boulevard Music Culver City CAWednesday, July 25 Yoshi's (Oakland) Oakland CAThursday, July 26 - Saturday, July 28 Wanderlust Festival Lake Tahoe Lake Tahoe CATuesday, July 31 Lan Su Garden Portland ORAdditional dates to be announced. For tickets and more information visit the newly revamped website at www.stephanewrembel.com