Home » Jazz Musicians » Claude Bolling

Claude Bolling

Claude Bolling is one the most famous French musicians in the world. Although his passion is jazz, he is also an accomplished composer of pop music and has written numerous film scores. He is quite an accomplished player of classic ragtime and stride piano as well. While born in Cannes on April 10, 1930, Claude Bolling has always lived in Paris. During the German occupation of France he received musical training from Marie-Louise “Bob” Hake, pianist, trumpet player and drummer in one of the many female orchestras à la mode in the inter-war period. Claude Bolling was introduced to the magic world of jazz by a schoolmate friend and became enamored with the music of Thomas Fats Waller. At just 15 years old he gained recognition and high marks at an amateur contest organized by Jazz Hot and Hot Club from France in Paris. He soon became interested in the music of several other masters of the piano like Willie “The Lion” Smith and Erroll Garner. Most influential to young Bolling was one of the early pioneers of the stride style of piano playing, who went on to lead a successful big band during the Swing Era, the great Earl “Fatha” Hines. Claude Bolling organized his first band at 16 and cut his first records at 18. After serving in the French military, where he played trombone and percussion, Bolling determined to make jazz his profession and he began playing in bustling French jazz establishments. Soon he was performing and recording with many famous American jazzmen who passed through France (Rex Stewart 1948-9; Roy Eldridge 1951, 1961; Don Byas 1951; Lionel Hampton 1953, 1954, 1956; Coleman Hawkins 1961; Albert Nicholas 1955; Cat Anderson 1964) and the name Claude Bolling became synonymous with the word jazz in Paris. While the talent of Claude Bolling has been expressed in many forms of music, he remains at heart a musician of jazz and a lover of ragtime, of boogie-woogie, and of the orchestrations of Duke Ellington and Sy Oliver. The pianist Claude Bolling, at times, takes a back seat to the big bandleader Claude Bolling; his dream of leading a big band having been realized in the 1950s. The Claude Bolling Big Band of today is comprised of talented musicians, several who have remained with him for many years. It celebrated its 20th anniversary in 1996 and made a tour of the world playing to large audiences in the United States, in Asia, in South America, and in Mexico.

Read more

Tags

125
Album Review

The Claude Bolling Big Band: Paris Swing

Read "Paris Swing" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Pianist / composer Claude Bolling, who has traveled all over the musical map from swing to classical and back during more than four decades as one of France’s most formidable performing artists, settles into a straight-ahead groove on Paris Swing. This record is a warmhearted hommage to French popular song that showcases his superb big band in the company of vocalists Marc Thomas and Maud (no last name given, like Madonna or Cher but with a French accent). Thomas, who ...

Read more articles

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

La Gitane / Le...

Le Chant du Monde
2012

buy

Vivre La Nuit (Bande...

Le Chant du Monde
2009

buy

Jazzgang Amadeus...

Le Chant du Monde
2006

buy

Paris Swing

Milan Records
2003

buy

Plays The Original...

Le Chant du Monde
2001

buy

Similar

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.