Role

:

Composer  

Country

:

France

Birth

:

April 10, 1930 in Cannes, France

Death

:

December 29, 2020 in Garches, France

 

Claude Bolling was a French jazz pianist, composer, and arranger who was born on April 10, 1930, in Cannes, France. He was the son of a jazz musician and began playing the piano at a young age. Bolling's father encouraged him to pursue a career in music, and he went on to study at the Nice Conservatory. Bolling's early career was focused on jazz music, and he played with some of the biggest names in the genre, including Lionel Hampton, Roy Eldridge, and Kenny Clarke. He also formed his own jazz trio and recorded several albums in the 1950s and 1960s. In the 1970s, Bolling began to explore classical music and began composing works that blended jazz and classical styles. One of his most famous works from this period is the Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano Trio, which was recorded with flutist Jean-Pierre Rampal and became a best-selling album. Bolling continued to compose music that blended jazz and classical styles throughout his career, and he wrote music for a variety of ensembles, including orchestras, big bands, and small jazz groups. He also composed music for films, including the score for the 1977 French film "Bilitis." One of Bolling's most notable works is his Concerto for Classic Guitar and Jazz Piano, which was written for guitarist Alexandre Lagoya and premiered in 1981. The concerto features a unique blend of classical guitar and jazz piano, and it has become a popular work in the classical guitar repertoire. Bolling also wrote music for several other instruments, including the flute, violin, and cello. His Suite for Violin and Jazz Piano Trio, written for violinist Pinchas Zukerman, is another popular work that blends classical and jazz styles. In addition to his work as a composer, Bolling was also a prolific arranger and conductor. He arranged music for a variety of artists, including Brigitte Bardot, Juliette Gréco, and Sacha Distel, and he conducted several orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Bolling's music has been widely performed and recorded, and he has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to music. In 1996, he was awarded the Grand Prix de la SACEM, the highest honor given by the French Society of Authors, Composers, and Publishers of Music. He was also inducted into the French Legion of Honor in 2010. Claude Bolling passed away on December 29, 2020, at the age of 90. His legacy as a composer and musician continues to inspire and influence musicians around the world.

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