BIOGRAPHY
Violinist, composer and arranger Pierre Blanchard was born in 1956 at St-Quentin, France.
After years of hard conservatory training he quickly entered the jazz world and studied composition and arrangement.
During the five years he spent in Martial Solal's Big Band (1981-1986) he met Stéphane Grappelli whose Michel Warlop violin he was offered in 1984 and with whom he played at various concerts at Théâtre du Châtelet, Juan les Pins, Festival de la Villette among others.
1987-2002: Concerts and recording sessions in France and abroad (Poland, Japan, Kuwait, Korea, Turkey, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Yugoslavia, Netherlands...) as soloist and with musicians such as: Vince Mendoza, Toots Thielemans, Pierre Michelot, Lee Konitz, Jacky McLean, Max Roach, René Urtreger, Billy Higgins, Ornette Coleman, Michel Legrand, Raphaël Faÿs, Gotan Project... Band leader of 'Gulf String" & "Arcollectiv' "
Produced several albums dedicated to the string orchestra, including one with Lee Konitz awarded in 1988.
2005: Tribute album to S. Grappelli "Rendez-vous" (Harmonia Mundi) with gypsy friends Dorado and Samson Schmitt
2007: Write a violin method in two volumes: 'Le Jazz au Violon' (ed. Henri Lemoine).
2007-2019: Recordings and tours with french pop star Thomas Dutronc.
Since2009: US tours with the Django Festival Allstars featuring: Samson Schmitt, Ludovic Beier, Doudou Cuillerier and Antonio Licusati(
2013:DFA Album: "Live at Birdland"
2017: DFA Album: "Gypsy attitude"
2018: Concert at Carnegie Hall (NYC)
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2023: Album: "Movies & Gypsies" with theMetropole Orkest
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Discography as leader:
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1985:"Each One Teach One"
1987: "Music for String Quartet, Jazz Trio, Violin and Lee Konitz"
1993:"Gulf String"
2000:"Volutes"
2004:"Rendez-vous"
2023:"Movies and Gypsies"
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