Claude Bolling

Claude Bolling is a French composer, pianist, and conductor. A piano prodigy, he began his professional career as a teenager and became famous for his compositions that blend jazz and classical music. His "Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano" (1975), written for Jean-Pierre Rampal, is one of his most iconic works. He collaborated with jazz greats such as Duke Ellington and Stéphane Grappelli and composed numerous film scores.

Bolling's piano playing is characterized by excellent technique and precise rhythm. He could effortlessly navigate between ragtime, blues, Boogie-Woogie, and classical music. His interpretations, both rich and accessible, along with his remarkable expressiveness, made him one of the most respected French jazz musicians.