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Philippe LEJEUNE (FRANCE)

French pianist Philippe LeJeune is a perfect example of the mixture of jazz and blues which was especially an important strain in the jazz tradition. The young pianist attended a 1968 concert in Reims, France, by master boogie-woogie and blues pianist Memphis Slim, and immediately put an end to his classical efforts and began teaching himself the blues, scouring local record shops for LP’s by boogie woogie greats. In 1980 he was invited by Memphis Slim - who had been a parisian citizen since 1962 - to cut an album titled « Dialog In Boogie » as a piano duet. A frenchman who loves and plays classic American jazz is not entirely unusual, but what sets Philippe apart from his contemporaries is his soulfoul feel for the music. His repertoire ranges from classic barrelhouse boogie woogie piano to Duke Ellington and Horace Silver tunes as well those of Milt Jackson and George Gershwin. Philippe LeJeune has released five CD’s in the United States, one among them is live at the Blue Moon in Houston, Texas. He also makes numerous appearances in various American jazz and blues clubs and festivals : Detroit Jazz Festival, Toledo Art Tatum Jazz Heritage Festival, Monterey Bay Blues Festival, Cincinnati Queen City Blues Festival. His performance at the 2005 Motor City Blues & Boogie Woogie Festival (Detroit) was recorded live to be edited into P.B.S. television specials and DVD. Living in Toulouse, France, LeJeune has performed for many years throughout Europe and Africa : Paris Fête du Jazz, Jazz In Marciac, Brussells Piano Summit, Barcelona Blues n’ Boogie Reunion, Saint Louis du Senegal Jazz Festival … As an education and clinician he has taught piano workshops in music schools, and has lead seminars at jazz and blues festivals throughout France. He is also artistic director for the Jazz Au Mercure Toulouse serie concerts. Philippe LeJeune has found a role not only as an interpreter of contemporary numbers, but as traditionalist bringing back to today’s audiences important music from a variety of older sources and melting it all together into a highly personal style and repertoire. The frenchman’s natural instinct for blues, jazz and boogie is food for the soul.

website : www.philippelejeune.com

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