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Claude Bolling
Biography
Pianist, composer, producer, and bandleader Claude Bolling enjoyed his first successes as a kingpin in the mainland European trad jazz movement of the 1950s and '60s. A skilled pianist who was heavily influenced by Duke Ellington, Teddy Wilson, Earl Hines, and Art Tatum, he also persisted in performing ragtime and old-style jazz during the years when U.S. and European pop culture was dominated by Elvis Presley and the Beatles. Beginning in 1975, Bolling created his own personal micro-genre of classical crossover chamber jazz, composing and recording entire suites that featured several of the world's most highly acclaimed virtuosi. While decades of devotion to ragtime, blues, New Orleans jazz, boogie-woogie and swing have earned him a faithful following throughout much of Europe, Bolling is best known in North America for his numerous albums of accessibly presented suites written and arranged specifically for classical soloists and a mainstream jazz rhythm section.

Claude Bolling was born in Cannes, France on April 10, 1930. A child piano prodigy, his primary jazz influence was Duke Ellington. The small band he assembled in 1945 drew inspiration from old time New Orleans jazz legends like Jelly Roll Morton, King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, and Sidney Bechet as well as the groups led by Ellington sidemen Johnny Hodges, Rex Stewart, Barney Bigard, and Cootie Williams.
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