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 six CD’s in the United States, and is also one of the featured artists on the CD celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the legendary Jazz Club Baker’s Keyboard in Detroit in 2009. 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 Fest, Cincinnati 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 in the Jazz festivals and clubs circuit (France, Spain, Switzerland, Belgium, Czech Republic …) and in Africa (Tunisia, Sénégal).
As an educator and clinician he has taught piano workshops in music schools, and has lead seminars at jazz and blues festivals throughout France and USA. He is also artistic director for ‘Jazz Au Mercure’ jazz concert serie in Toulouse and Bordeaux. Philippe LeJeune’s name was introduced into the famous New Grove Dictionary of Jazz in 2001.
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.
www.philippelejeune.com
Email address:
Philip.Lejeune@yahoo.fr
Recordings : BLACK & BLUE label
(distribution USA/Canada /Australia: PUPPYJAZZ.COM)
« Night Mist Blues »
« Solo Piano »
« Blues Inspiration »
« Piano Groove »
« Live At Blue Moon »
Philippe completed a successfully tour of the US during February 2010
