Eric Le Lann

Born in Plœuc‑sur‑Lié, in the Côtes‑d’Armor, in 1957, Éric Le Lann established himself on the French jazz scene by the late 1970s after moving to Paris and winning first prize at the Concours national de jazz de La Défense in 1979. A trumpeter and composer, he developed a musical language rooted in bop and post‑bop, with a direct, melodic tone often inclined toward balladry as well as toward more nervy, energetic forms. Throughout the 1980s he appeared alongside René Urtreger, Henri Texier, Martial Solal and Pepper Adams, before leading his own quartets and quintets, while also working in film as a musician and composer. His discography as leader or co‑leader punctuates this career with Night Bird (1983), New York (1989), Éric Le Lann joue Piaf Trenet (1990), Portrait in Black & White (duo with Martial Solal, 2000), I Remember Chet (2013), a trio tribute to Chet Baker, and Life on Mars (2015) with Paul Lay. Le Lann has also explored more open formats, from acoustic duo to a more electric jazz‑fusion with Le Lann Top in 2007, while remaining active on club and festival stages and in film music projects.