BIOGRAPHY
Pierre Blanchard, violinist, composer and arranger, was born in 1956 in St Quentin.
After solid studies at the conservatory, Pierre Blanchard quickly joined the world of jazz and studied composition and arrangement.
During the five years spent in the Martial Solal Big Band (1981 to 1986), he met Stephane Grappelli, who offered him in 1984 as an honorary Michel Warlop's violin. He performed with Stephane at Théâtre du Châtelet, Juan les Pins, Festival de La Villette...
1987 to 2002: Concerts and recordings in France and abroad (Poland, Japan, Kuwait, Korea, Turkey, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Yugoslavia, Netherlands...) as a soloist in various formats, including:Vince Mendoza, Toots Thielemans, Pierre Michelot, Lee Konitz, Jacky Mc Lean, Max Roach, René Urtreger, Billy Higgins, Ornette Coleman, Michel Legrand, Raphaël Faÿs, Gotan Project...Concerts as leader with “Gulf String" and "Arcollectiv"
Signs several discs highlighting his passion for the String Orchestra, including one with Lee Konitz, stamped
"Choc" in journal "Le Monde de la Musique"(1988)
2005: Album tribute to S. Grappelli with his gypsy friends Dorado and Samson Schmitt: "Rendez-vous"
(Harmonia-mundi)
2007: Publication of a method for violin in 2 volumes (Ed.Henri Lemoine)
2007 to 2019: Recordings and tours with french pop star Thomas Dutronc
Since 2009: Tours in the United States with the Django Festival Allstars» featuring Samson Schmitt, Ludovic Beier, Doudou Cuillerier, and Antonio Licusati (Newport Jazz Fest., Birdland NYC, Hollywood Bowl, Montreal Jazz Fest. SF Jazz...)
2013: Album "Live at Birdland"
2017:Album "Attitude Manouche"
2018: Concert at Carnegie Hall (NYC)
2023: Album "Movies & Gypsies"
Leader discography:
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 & Gypsies" with The Metropole Orkest