Claude Bolling, pianist, composer, arranger and conductor, was born in Cannes (France) on 10 April 1930, where he has lived ever since except during the German occupation. Precocious musician, first studied classical music and in 1944 won the “Tournoi des Amateurs. He studied under Marie Louise”Bob”Colin, and discovered jazz through a classmate. In 1945 he won the amateur contest organized by the Hot Jazz and Hot Club of France in Paris. He created his first band at 16, and made his recording debut at 18.

In 1945 he formed a group with Claude Luter Claude Abadie and would be one of the first serious attempts to traditional jazz in France after World War II. During the Great Jazz Week 1948 in Paris, accompanied the great blues singer, Bertha Hill, and later played alongside major American musicians of the time. In 1955 he formed his first orchestra, Read the rest of this entry »